Maybe I am to old but what happened to the traditional pick up? ( standard cab,8ft bed,v8- manual tranny,no carpet or a/c?) Can't get one no more. Fine if they want to sell the loaded ones but the basic one should still be available for those who want one. Or what about one that wants a sport truck. Those would like a v8, stick shift,short bed,standard cab with a low geared rear end. Again Not available.
Towards the end of the century, demand for pickup trucks exploded, as many folks, (myself being one of the very many) began to realize that pickup trucks have many advantages over passenger cars, at very close to the same operating cost. They can tow massive loads, literally carry a cord of firewood, bring home dimensional lumber from the home improvement center, handle rough terrain with ease, offer a better view of the road, for the driver, and are easily ready, with the pickup bed, and heavy duty suspension, to do a large list of jobs, with which a standard car would struggle.
As pickup trucks started to mainline, and transition from the dedicated farm utility vehicle which they once were, to the suburban luxury trucks they are, now; people who were changing from cars to pickup trucks expected all the amenities which their Oldsmobiles and Monarchs could offer them to also be available in pickup trucks.
So, as a result, pickup trucks started getting carpets, interior treatments, tinted windows, tilt steering wheels, power windows, and all the options you can get on an upper end car. With this increase in options also came an increase in demand for more space to haul the family, and items which folks didn't want at the mercy of the elements.
And, now, here we are, with these super-popular 3/4 ton crew-cabs, the family war-wagon, for all occasions, which you see gracing the driveways of Amrikka today...