Couldn't justify a diesel option either, but got one anyways because I wanted it and didn't want to spend the next 3-5 years wishing I did. Nothing against the other engine choices, they just weren't even an option for me regardless. I live by the motto "life is too short to regret things you didn't do".
Tuned and deleted, normal off the line performance improves dramatically with the torque management "tailored". Just a little throttle input will get you off the line quickly. There have been many times that the person next to me thinks I am racing them coming off a stop light when I am just applying light throttle input not even getting above 2,000 rpm. My wife used to get mad at me for this because she thought I was trying to race everyone off the line too. Then she drove the truck and people were doing the same to her, and she drives like a grandma compared to me.
Now you can tune these trucks without removing the emissions equipment. Some tuners will also turn off the EGR, but you can return it back to stock to turn it on if you have to get an emissions test for state inspection.
