My personal truck is 3/4T 89 dodge with the banks cummins, auto, 4x4, 420K + miles now. no problems except it tends to eat those u-joints in the steering shaft. 20+/- mpg and pulls trailers like a dream. It does have way too torque if you're not careful, it would twist out axels, trans, etc...
valid points from both sides..... at least with you two, you do see in validity in each others position.
The change is coming, but the million dollar question is - change to what?