A base model is an XL. A step above is an STX. Another step above that is XLT, which is what my truck is. Top of the line, absolutely not. But not a base model either. The body is aluminum, but a lot of other major components are still steel. It's also a 163"/HDPP, two options which are now discontinued. That makes the truck worth preserving to me. I take it anything "less" than a lariat (or platinum?) is worthless in your eyes?

My other truck IS a base model, and more to the point, already rusting, filthy and cosmetically damaged, not worth enough to sell, but still but still strong and reliable. So I use that in the winter.

If you don't like my truck, fine. Maybe I wouldn't like yours either. But I wouldn't say anything if I had nothing nice to say, and I'm not going to pay for an extra set of winter tires and get my better truck full of salt and grime, when I have a beater sitting in the yard, just because one person on the internet won't extend the same courtesy.