Yea that's what I've always done as well. I've had a Sport Trac, s-10,f150, f250, and 2500.
The 2500 was purchased new in 2001 for $14,800. now the base is $32,000 I get they come with a million more safety features and comforts now vs then but it kills me both in my personal life and at my work that you can't buy a stripped down 100 or 200 class truck for $20,000 or less.
Shoot at work it basically makes more sense for us to lease 3 at ~$900/mo then to buy 3 at $100,000.