modern cars are literally designed to deform on impact to keep the passengers safe. they're called "crumple zones" and they exist to dissipate kinetic energy to keep everybody involved safer. adding "more rigidity" isn't serving any meaningful purpose.

> I guess we all just want something that “looks like a pickup”, is heavy, and guzzles $7 a gallon diesel fuel

No actually the lightning and the R1T are pretty well loved by the people who took a chance on them