So basically a Passport without the flying buttress design on the bed    

Sounds like your conflating info with the Bronco and Escape and not the Bronco Sport.   The Bronco Sport is very similar in size to the Escape outside of length. The interior room (in the front seats) is just about identical but IMO the Bronco Sport has better layout to the dash-I hate the start button location on the Escape. 

Looks like Ford is going to be leaning into its Ford Custom Garage-See the Maverick SV300T thread also   AUTOS Ford wants more customers to customize vehicles to boost profits as it eyes ‘Nike shoe drop’ moments   https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/en/articles/2026/ford-custom-garage-bronco-desert-rising-edition   https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/en/articles/2026/ford-custom-garage-shortcut-to-customization    

Its not an official factory trim, it appears its part of the Ford Custom Garage https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/en/articles/2026/ford-custom-garage-shortcut-to-customization  

We're down to 2 kids at home, and they don't want to go with us much anymore.  I'll still by the crew cab for 2 reasons: it's nice to have the room for stuff in the back while traveling, and that's the only way I can get a Lariat or higher trim!  

I agree, what they did was likely wrong, but if the original evidence (or lack thereof) showed he did it, then they found out otherwise, apologized and admitted the error, and then gave his job back, there's really not grounds to sue in my opinion.   Mistakes happen.  Yes, people (and companies) should be held accountable, but the world has gotten out of hand for suing people for way too much money for non-malicious-intent mistakes.  A simple apology (a very public apology to clear his name) should be acceptable here IMO.

GM also has the issue of some of their trucks are coming from Mexico, which cutting into profits. 

To practice their welding skills? Seriously, did you ask the dealership you bought it from? 

And perhaps GM pushing harder with its BOF plant and SUV sales also allows Ford to do the opposite with its F Series plants and make far more money with them? (that give and take I mentioned before that’s no always obvious)  

https://www.truecar.com/compare/ford-bronco-sport-vs-ford-escape_2022/