It depends on where you live in Texas, but you only have to hit a deer once to understand the utility of those ugly brushguards.

My son ran into a deer with our beater Aerostar minivan awhile back it totaled it. Airbag went off and everything.

Meanwhile I hit a deer with my Ram diesel pickup with a Ranchhand guard last week and no damage. So they do have some utility. ;)

I do agree these trucks are ridiculous; if I didn't have a farm and the need to haul a large trailer I probably wouldn't have it. As it is we mostly drive my wife's Subaru when we actually need to go somewhere unladened.