Alternatively, it helps reduce the amount of rotted out wheelwells. Which if you live anywhere close to the salt belt will be present on pretty much every domestic pickup more than 4 years old. That said I don't really understand why anyone cares, so what if people want to spend a little bit extra to get some black trim, what's it to you? Sheesh.The blackout (when it's not plastic) looks good on some cars.
However, my biggest b**** is the increase in black plastic around the wheel wells of so many cars, even higher end cars. Looks pretty cheap on a $60k vehicle.