Your trying to compare a 10-15 year old drive train and price to a brand new truck.
The brand new truck will cost a lost more, have superrior features vs. the old and perform better. For all of this you will pay the price for a new vehicle.
However you should not consider this price a premium as though you are paying a surcharge.
Fast forward 15 years from now and those vehicles and technology will be superior to the 2021/2022 models of today. There price will also far exceed the value of a 15 year old 2021 truck. The lateset greatest will always cost significantly more.
A 15 year old truck will often be capable of getting the job done but trying to compare it t the latest technology in price and performance is futile.