The original question has been well answered, so this is just my personal comment.
Put me down as one who prefers going on from Amarillo to Raton and over the easy pass there. I-25 has always been a pleasant drive for me--nothing like I-20 across Louisiana or I-30/I-40 across Arkansas. For me, I-25 is an uncongested drive.
Glad to hear that the Farm Road out by Boy's Ranch is being widened. I've gone that way several times, but my preference has become Dumas to Dalhart because we often want to stop for a meal along that route. I will just share that a couple of years ago we attended the Youth Rodeo at Cal Farley's and enjoyed it greatly. We had a really nice place to stay in our fifth-wheel right on the ranch--full hookups and uncrowded.