Ford to Stop Stripping Trucks for Payload Ratings

Link in OP wrote:
Following General Motors' lead, Ford has confirmed that it will stop stripping its pickups to inflate their maximum payload ratings.

In a case of one-upmanship, both companies had removed any optional components -- including bumpers -- and opted for lighter alloy wheels to reduce curb weight and boost payload capacity.

Big whup. So now they will weigh the stripped (no options) model with base steel wheels instead of aluminum. What difference will that make, maybe 150 pounds?

They'll still weigh the base model without a bumper or other accessories since they allow us to order them that way. Some don't want to buy a bumper, radio, etc since they will just throw them away and install their own anyway. Anything we install is using up available payload, and we should know it.

Instead, should they weigh a truck with the most options and give us a worst case payload? Should they plunk a 300 pounder in each of the seats and add Ranch Hand bumpers?

I think what they are doing is okay as long as they use a truck you can actually order, even if nobody here actually wants to order one. I just don't see the big deal here.