Driven by the fashion statement crowd, who 'think' taller has more capacity/rating/etc...several locals 'think' their half ton is more truck than my 3/4 ton truck. Mine has higher GVWR/RGAWR/payload/etc and can enter local parking garages with a 6'4" entry height limit...while they can not...
Ditto the latest 'larger, blunted nose' for pickups, etc.
Ditto the larger dia wheels where they were considered low rider stuff and laughable to the TV crowd just a decade ago
Marketing to the herd stuff and of course it works so well in selling. Toss in "Kind of the Hill" stuff...