Spray-in liners are nice at first, but fade from UV. This looks as bad as any scratches you may get in your factory paint. A bed mat is just fine for basic impact and slide resistance. Paint rubbing may occur if you don't keep it clean but who cares. It's a truck bed.
Mainly price. I had 3 Tacoma's in the past and was shopping for the 4th, but the discounted (pre-pandemic) price on the Ranger was too hard to pass up. I was reluctant about the turbo and HVAC controls on the Ranger. One of them has not let me down. They are both good trucks though and no regrets.
I have been driving on snow in the PNW mountains regularly since 2019 on the stock FX4 Hankooks. Since 4wd does not help breaking, I leave it in 2H until I feel slipping or the traction control light starts flashing, then put it in 4H while moving. I have had to use the diff-lock in 2L a few...