I don't know if I'd say the two are necessarily mutually exclusive.   If they're propped up back home to wildly overproduce and ship globally, they can simultaneously be a threat, while in reality being a diseased paper tiger if govt funding were ever reduced/removed.

I'd agree with your assessment - they offer a good amount of tech for what you're paying, especially in the Mulally years.  I also like Ford designs more than most other brands on the road, and am obviously familiar with how their vehicles operate.  Recent price increases while de-contenting obviously leaves a sour taste, but so far I've been able to largely avoid being hit with de-contenting by getting early builds of new models.  Knock on wood, I've also done fairly decently quality wise with the 3 Ford's I've bought new, though obviously others have had different degrees of issues, so I can understand why others may not be happy if they had bigger/more frequent problems.   Other brands are certainly not immune from issues.  My mom has had various issues with her X7 over the years, but also loves it.  I think leasing and handing back is the way to go with those types of vehicles, as repair bills (not to mention maintenance beyond the factory included period) get expensive quick.....I watched a video recently of a Panamera......to change the air filter (can't recall if it was engine or cabin), they had to completely remove the entire front bumper, both headlights and other components just to swap out the filter........vs. my Bronco where you pull open the glove box and another door, or unscrew 4 bolts in the engine bay and you're done.

It is-China, along with the rest of the western world is getting older. The last time I checked, something like 50% of the Chinese population is over 50. As you get older, you don't spend as much because you don't need as much for example.    That causes other issues with taxes, military recruitment, etc as time goes on. 

I find the claim about $1bn in material and warranty cost reduction hard to believe. From what I can find online, their warranty expenses haven’t gone down yet, and I can’t see why material costs would be going down right now unless they mean aluminum since there isn’t a fire anymore.   tbh a big reason I like Ford is that their tech works well at this point. Ford Pass is a free app and is so nice. If the Fathom looks dumb I’ll still probably upgrade to a newer Ford Escape next year to upgrade tech, and as I see it a lot of Ford’s appeal for decades has been them being a bit more innovative with what they put into ordinary cars. Aluminum body F-150, Ecoboost, early on hybrids, etc all the way back to the Taurus. Its not hard to imagine many feeling differently on this, but I feel this is what Ford has been for at least my lifetime.

He is picking a stupid hill to die on to try and make some sort of point.

Most the EV loses are on paper and not actually a production loss...yet. 

The tech types/levels in Ford's lineup are such a mixed bag. The 27 F-150 is effectively a carry-over other than the 3.0 replacing the 2.7 engine, "entry level" off road models, the Carhartt package, and adding trailering with BlueCruise up to 10000lb/75mph. For someone with a regular cab short box, it's inherently an XL, so the only changes there for 27 are colors.   As for what that particular truck lacks... the really high end tech like BlueCruise is the big one. Push button start/intelligent access. Remote start on the fob. Adaptive cruise control. 360 camera package. It still has dozens of computers and piles of systems. Still has the Ford Modem, the Security Package, Connectivity Package (no nav though), even Sirius 360L. Still has auto high beams, blind spot, lane keeping, and a bunch of lesser systems. Even a "basic" truck isn't all that basic anymore.

Other than lacking a turbo, what other major tech is absent on this F-150 compared to the rest of Ford Blue’s lineup?

The E-Transit's EV successor was cancelled, but the current model remains in production.  A hybrid van is scheduled for 2029.

Leaving the exact characterization of China’s economy aside, most companies created and developing within one economic framework and structure won’t survive well if you put them in a totally different framework and structure. Ford would probably implode if you stuck it in North Korea. Square peg round hole.    With that in mind, the Chinese auto industry is either an existential threat if we take down trade barriers OR its a totally diseased paper tiger. It can’t be both… Even if you think it is only a threat because of the government, China ain’t going anywhere.