This is probably my biggest gripe with the 4Runner as well. I guess that's saying something lol.

I think the problem is a combination of the blade style dipstick, the narrow/long/winding tube that smears oil everywhere inside, and really thin/light colored oil. You really only get one shot with fresh-ish oil before you basically can't read the level.

Like you, I find my e36 M3's dipstick very easy to read because it also has a plastic end piece, a short/straight tube, and thick-ish oil which doesn't run and smear all over the inside of the tube. Even my 3rd Gen 4Runner's dipstick was a cinch to read with it's short length and thicker oil.