Apparently Ford didn't want to end up with the absurd prolferation of V6s that Chrysler had in the 1990s to up until the Pentastar.
Some of us remember the 3.0 (mitsubishi), the 3.3L, 3.5L, 3.8L, 3.9L. Only the 3.3 and 3.8 had any common DNA, as the 3.5 was the DOHC hotrod for the LH debut. The 3.9 was a shortened 318 V8. There was also a 3.7L.
They had almost every decimal liter from 3L-4L covered.
Then there was the 2.7L that gets very little attention.
When they did the Pentastar, they eliminated a half dozen engines. It was such a farce it makes you wonder how it persisted so long.