And sure Americans care about energy costs but looking at the car market you can see Americans don’t actually care to make choices that save them money in the long run. Ford doesn’t even produce sedans anymore.
The majority of truck owners don’t use them for towing or hauling
Vehicles are primarily driven by culture, not pragmatism. I live in Texas, and not the outback part of Texas, but DFW. Trucks are prolific here and it's not exactly a secret that the greatest challenge most will ever face are the potholes on 360 heading into Arlington.
The truth is that many people are happy to burn money if it reinforces their sense of masculinity and identity as a Texan.
I’ve never even noticed how long it take my dishwasher to run because overnight is my requirement. If you throw parties weekly and need a fast dishwasher to clean plates between courses, buy one. Just as if you need a truck for your farm.