Ford VS Chevy Trucks? Why so much debate? Who cares?

So I was searching to buy my first vehicle for months. I got lots of opinions from various coworkers on what kind of truck I should get. I got answers ranging from "get a toyota, you won't regret it" to "Buy an s10 it's a good starter truck" all the way to "Whatever you do, don't get a ford".
After meeting a new coworker and him giving me a ride home regulary, I grew quite fond of his Ford Ranger. So much that I ended up buying a 2003 Ranger myself for $2,900. It has 111k on it but it's been a great lil truck, not a single problem to speak of. So does any of this Ford Chevy debate
hold any real merit and does it really matter? A car is a car is a car, right?

It is based on personal preference. If everyone like the same product, there would only be one choice.

It's based on people's personal preference and past experience.

A lot of people are loyal to a brand because they've had excellent experience with them in the past, or dislike a particular brand because of a poor experience. Someone may have had a Chevrolet break down on them several times, so they switch to Ford and just happened to have no problems. Now, they're totally loyal to Ford and will tell everyone who asks them not to buy a Chevrolet.

If you look purely at reliability ratings from magazines like Consumer Reports, the American truck manufacturers and Nissan all rank about the same, with Toyota a little above. The cars are built with different features by different people in different factories often using different methods, yet they still have their own issues. It's up to the owner to maintain the vehicle properly, and it could last for an incredibly long time.

My dad had an old saying about trucks in particular: you buy a Ford for working, a Chevrolet for driving, and a Dodge for showing. He told me this was since the Fords were best for utilitarian jobs like construction and farming because they wouldn't break down and could handle the most abuse, the Chevrolets had the best interiors and drove the best on the road, and the Dodges looked great and could be customized from the dealership, but weren't so nice to drive and weren't so suited for working.

Nowadays, the companies are trying to make their trucks do everything. They now come with leather interiors, cruiser control, navigation systems, bluetooth, softer rides, and more efficient engines like the turbocharged V-6s in Fords and the diesels in Rams. It's all up to opinion. The best thing you can do next time is test drive one example of each and pick the one that you personally like best (not knocking your Ranger, just saying you may have like a different truck better).

I hope this has answered your question. If you have any more, please feel free to ask.

Rangers are very reliable.

Ford