Is the bushing upgrade worth it? IDK. It makes a small but noticeable difference when cornering. My old ones weren't bad AFAIK but polyurethane is stiffer and that's what makes the difference I think. I'd say it's worth it if you enjoy working on your truck but don't expect miracles.

I've never done sliders but I like the way they look, I am not a welder so I'd be limited to bolt-ons for DIY. I'm not personally a fan of nerf bars. Maybe you could swap in some Limited running boards to get the lights?

I'm not sure how to make a truck look meaner - demon eye headlights? painted flames? truck nutz? I remember a post where the guy said it wasn't until he put on his new bumper that he started getting comments at gas stations and such.