Tom, the new vehicle is vastly improved and the sticker price, six years later, is pretty close to what they sold for back in 2000. Who cares if it's an option? I suspect some people would rather have the $300 in their pocket than a power rear window they rarely use.
Ford has to accomodate all kinds of interests in getting a new vehicle into production. Accountants and cost considerations. Executives and managers "tweaking" based on what they think the customer wants. Plant capabilities. Supplier capabilities. Crash testing. Government mandates. The list is forever.
I'm sure, if the Sport Trac brand manager could make the ST leap off the concept drawing board and into production exactly the way he wanted, he'd be grateful. But reality is, bringing a new vehicle to market involves leaping tall buildings, traversing minefields, crawling under barbed wire, etc.
I'm grateful the window will be available. I use it a lot in the 2001.