See, and I read this quite differently, the HD two package was an option to begin with. Now I haven't tried to configure one so I don't know if it is or isn't the case but I don't believe it's at all a matter of reducing the entrance cost of a vehicle for "competitive" purposes at all. If it's an option, then it was by nature designed for those that were willing to pay for the upgraded radiator. My take is by reducing yet another large, heavy, hard to store/stock/ship part, Ford is reducing their costs, but I almost guarantee they didn't really reduce the cost of the HD Tow Package. In fact, I just pulled out my window sticker from my 2019 with HD tow and the add on was $795. It's now $995, so you're getting a weaker radiator that might not handle the vigor, and/or may fail faster, and your paying $200 more. one could argue at say 25% inflation maybe... more if you include the loss of the radiator?
Bottom line IMHO, to maintain profitability and makeup for 5 figure losses in say the EV portion of the business, as well as pay 20% pay increases for workers (when many folks are lucky to get say 2-3% right now if any), you're going to continue to get less for more, it's simple math. It's like them removing the multi-color LED's in the ambient lighting, that may save $10 per vehicle when all said and done, but it's, as you said, the bean counters.