Even the cheap ones attach with plate like bolts putting pressure on a long portion of the body, and even if a rhino stepped on it and somehow broke it it wouldn't be visible. And even on the off chance you broke it, it wouldn't be hard to weld. If you really want to find frame mounts that's cool, but I wouldn't worry one bit about mounting them to the body. That part of the body is completely separate from the visible part of the body, just saying. I'm 220 pounds plus and several times I've bounced on mine to show off how secure mine are.
When off roading body damage sometimes happens regardless, scrap having any steps and put on rock sliders instead if it's that important. I had triangular rock sliders that acted as steps on my jeep, guarded against body damage and could use them as a step. I can't remember the name and I don't know if they have them for a ram, but I remember they attached at the body mount. I think they are smitty built. Even if you have a frame mounted step, if you went over a big enough rock, they would likely smash into the body. The tube will be weaker then where it attaches to the body in my opinion. The tube will just smash on a rock with the weight of your truck. A true rock slider will protect you more. The supported triangular shape gives you a lot of support for going over rocks.
Do a search for rock slider instead of tube step, you will get a ton of body mounted sliders and some will also act as steps. Once you get the right rock slider you can always modify it to accept a step for the missis, and it will protect you from any damage from any rock or mound.
