On my 2021 Ranger anyway, the RS wipers have a master on/off choice in the settings menu in the info display.

It is probably both, depending on the feature and type of vehicle. Rain sensing wipers may not be as important to BS customers as they are for Lincoln's. The change from an opening moonroof to a fixed panel design on the 2026 Explorer will have some moving the vehicle off their list. 

I thought that this was enabled by default? 

Shame, mine is always on auto. I was a passenger in a Rav4 yesterday and my constant whining seeing all the faults the vehicle had. Talk about discontenting. No rear A/C vents, no lighted switched on doors (Had to pull a Helen Keller to open door and window), poor headliner, chitzy plastic, I could hear rain drops on the side glass, rear wheel well wasn't quiet, you could hear water splash. It was truely a 3rd world vehicles.  If Ford wants to be Toyota it should be reliability, not scrimping out on details.

I revert to my argument in most of the decontenting.......if competitors have it, and Ford keeps dropping x, y, z, it's a reason for people to pass on buying the Ford.   I'd use them if i had them.

This may be in response to data from Ford Connect. FC can send info back to Ford on how some features are used, or not used, and decisions can be made on discontinuing feature, or moving it to a different option package or trim, if people are using the wipers in rain sensing mode seldomly or not at all. It could be a catch-22. People don't use them because they don't know they are there, or don't know how to navigate the Settings menu to turn the feature on or off. 

Rain sensing wipers is a stupid feature anyway. Good riddance. 

Agreed, it wasn't bad, but definitely softer looking. I don't love the current one, but they definitely toughened it up.

Don't know if this is a "best case scenario thing" or what...   Ford Says Supplier Plant Will Reopen Earlier Than Expected   During Ford's Q3 2025 earnings call with investors, the automaker was asked when it expected the Novelis plant to become operational again, after previous reports indicated that it would be "at least" Q1 2026 before that happened. In response, Ford COO Kumar Galhotra said that "the hot mill, which is down now, will be operational in late November/early December. It’ll then go through a quick ramp-up through December.  

I ran across this looking for some information and thought it might be of interest.   https://www.csmonitor.com/1982/0623/062337.html   This paragraph summed up how I felt about the first T6 Ranger, but this was printed 40+ years ago LOL