Pravus Prime, you were witnessing the "kinder, gentler Delta Flyer".
BDixon made his first post on behalf of his wife, and he is entitled to a decent greeting.
I would like to gently say she has to decide if he wants are worth paying more gas - now and particulary in the future ($4-5 a gallon?) I have a very similar commute only it's 25 miles early in the morning. I get 70-80mpg in my Insight. BDixon's wife is basically doing most everything possible to consume the maximum gas possible with her vehicle choice and driving habits.
If she elected to drive a Ford Escape Hybrid, she at least doubles her fuel economy over an F150 - 4x if a Prius or Civic.
I contend that she is no less safe in the vehicles suggested, and I'm not even sure it's a "sacrifice".
It's like a lot of things in life - to get a change, you have to make some changes.