If you need 4WD nothing else will do but as always it comes at a cost... 4WD will diminish your payload, mileage and the balance in your checkbook. I have never needed it but living in southern California and now Tucson, 2WD has always met my needs with none of the downsides of 4WD.
If I ever get another truck it will in all probability be 4WD as it will be the last truck I ever buy but doubt if the 4WD will ever get much use. With the 2WD F-150 if I could not comfortably get down the road pulling our 22' TT without 4WD I simply did not go. Remember the old adage....
"4WD will just get you stuck farther from the highway."
:B