PS: I read the "full spec" sheet for it, it has a 7,700 lb towing capacity - I guess I'll have to trade in the Mav for a Ranger....even though Ranger is "only" rated at 7,500 lb towing....

Heavy nostalgia element too for us old folks. 

Covid/chip shortage caused most of the price increases.  And even though it was developed as a stopgap there are no real compromises with the vehicle.  Two of my neighbors have them and absolutely love them.  They are real F150s with a different powertrain.

Yeah, and he has been pretty vocal about his displeasure with Ford as of late (for some if it, I get), which is why my first responses probably sounded harsh.

Manuals have no place in racing.  Paddles are significantly faster and keeps both hands on the wheel and eliminates the possibility of missing a gear or overrevving.  I love my PDK.  Manuals are just for fun.

Works fine with the vehicle voice control.

Turned out to be an Edsel moment.   My cynicism aside, I think the thing driving Ford during the Covid period was being the first on the block with a BEV, and why not electrify the number one vehicle in the US, and build  plants to be all BEV all the time? But they went at it using stale technology and the market pooped out before costs were amortized and the infrastructure half completed Meanwhile, the Chinese advanced the technology with components that they fabricate in country, leaving Ford and GM starved for chips and rare earths. I think they still have a 10-day sales mindset to a degree. Hopefully, the UEV genus will be the reset that Ford needs.

Never say never. Farley was preaching to the choir at the race at Bathurst, and there was balking by some teams at the proposed rule change to paddle shifters. The Series owners saying nobody drives manuals anymore, and that the change would better align with other motorsports, and the consensus among drivers is that it would dumb down the series. https://fastrackexperiences.com.au/stick-shift-vs-paddle-shift-the-inside-story-of-supercars-big-gearbox-debate/?srsltid=AfmBOoqw12TM80AzWMW0gTLyTdm0g2vsh7ChmvigDT6Q3yftGvwtvM1F

I do but have not tried that function.  I did move my music to a USB C drive from a USB A bc I could not get the A to work, the C worked fine.

The mistake was charging a hefty premium for a stopgap vehicle.