Yes, at least some of them were work trucks. But I do know a really hard core desert nut or two that bought them strickly as off road/hunting/camping vehicles. At least one of them, bought a replacement when he wore out his first.
I've owned a couple of 3/4 ton, 4X4's. In snow and ice, they seem to work better than the lighter Jeeps simply because they are heavier. Helps them bite through the ice, etc.
Never met a 3/4 ton truck that could fit into really tight places like a Jeep or ride nearly as nicely as the Jeep Wranglers do off road. Driver fatigue can be a factor I've learned. E
