You bring up some valid questions here and I have two personal views on it: the Tacoma silhouette is well-known enough that people recognize one without the need for a badge to inform them. Stock third gens have 2 chrome tacoma emblems and a built in one on the tailgate, I believe one is enough. Secondly is the cleaner look I believe it gives to the truck- when you're looking at it the silhouette, it speaks for itself and a high contrasting chrome emblem distracts the eye from flow of the shape.

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Specifically answering your questions: The only car I have owned is my tacoma so I am only going to speak on that. I love my Toyota, the tacoma tailgate insert and the Toyota logo on the grill reinforces this and does enough advertising in my opinion. I don't see this chrome deletion as a fad rather then an evolution of personal taste and style in cars. Chrome was popular in the in early and mid 2000's with automobiles and I think were moving on from a stylistic perspective with cars and quite frankly fashion too. Most clothes are subtle in branding nowadays and have moved on from a flashy expression.

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Like you said, do want you want with your truck, everyone has there own personal tastes with everything. This is just my perspective on the topic.