WTH, I've also noticed the lack of small pickups. I drive what is considered a mid-sized, and it is the same size as a full sized truck from the 80's. I've owned 1 "full sized" truck, back in the early 2000's, and didn't care for it. Did not need that much truck, and sold it after a couple of years. Any bed limitations with my current truck are resolved either with my utility trailer, or with a bed extender that goes in trailer hitch receiver. So I have not missed a full sized truck at all. And I use it as a truck, it's got plenty of power and towing capacity, and I venture out on forest roads quite often. The Ford Maverick is considered a small truck, I've seen them and they're pretty sharp. But they are too light duty for what I want.

The Big Fail looks like a good read, just got a reserve on it at the library, thanks for the recommendation and the writeup on your great site.