I don't really mind a very long-lived design as long as it's a good design. My dad has a '98 S10, and it's a good truck that is still chugging right along with over 300,000 miles on it, but there's not much about it that I consider an improvement over my old square body. And the few things that are improvements are direct bolt-on upgrades to the old trucks because they have the same basic chassis. Mine had 2nd Gen Blazer 4 wheel disc brakes and ZQ8 suspension, for example. I could out-handle a lot of sports cars.

I had AC that kept me cool in Florida, I got 28 mpg, I could haul pretty much anything I actually wanted to haul, I had a decent stereo, and it was fun to drive. It started easy and was reliable. I wouldn't hesitate to get in it with just fluid and tire pressure checks and drive across the country. I had all that without a CAN bus or 58x ignition system.

What has the Colorado, which replaced the S10, improved on? Higher payload capacity? I didn't need it, and if I did, I'd get a full size. If GM was still building the 80's-style S10 today, I'd still be interested in buying one.

I don't know. Maybe I'm just getting curmudgeonly in my old age.