Truck are popular because of culture, not a necessity. Unless you're working a farm or something like regularly hauling dirt, than they are less practical than a sedan even.
I disagree, something I learned pretty quick when we moved out of the city. How do you haul your trash to the dump when there is no pickup service in your area? How do you acquire a replacement dishwasher, oven, refrigerator, or big screen TV when you are outside the delivery area of the appliance store? Need a cord of firewood? A bed of mulch? Topsoil for the garden? 2x4s for a deck or workbench? Etc. Etc.
Trucks become more practical in rural areas because of the lack of amenities that exist around cities and towns.
They're popular in cities and suburbs where they are useless. I said they were useful out in farmlands. Half of what you said can fit in an SUV anyway. There is not place like that anywhere near where I live and trucks are still extremely common, most of my friends have one. They're all white collar. Most have bed covers or a trunk installed in the bed. I find it's really funny when people buy trucks and put a ton of effort into making the bed almost as useful as a trunk.
