Yeah I like the look with nothing there at all but I do find myself using them to wash the roof, use the roof racks, etc. Not that often but still. I'm 6'2" and still feel I do need them so they remain. I'm not a spring chicken either and so I'll probably need them more as the years go by. I don't use them to get in or out of the Runner. I put my right foot in, slide my butt into the seat then put my left foot in. I noticed just today that I'm wearing the weather stripping and the back bolster of the seat with my fat ass though so I think I'll have to change to left foot on the step, right foot in, swing in the butt missing the weather strip and bolster then left foot in. *sigh* this getting old shit, ya know? By the way, is that a Harbor Freight canopy there? I have one and it's great when the driveway is in the sun but I have to work on the cars.