You are so right and others in the rest of the US would be blown away by how many 4Runners you see (every gen but 3rd and 4ths are the most popular) even if you drive just a mile. I've been at a stoplight more than once where every generation is represented so yes,you need a little customization to stand out a little.
Yeah, it is strange how different things can be from one region to another. When I drive to upstate NY (near the Syracuse area) to visit relatives, I hardly ever see another 4Runner at all. I was up there last winter for 3 days and I didn't see another 4Runner anywhere until the last day when I saw a black 4th gen in the parking lot of a ski resort. It's amazing how rare the 4Runner is in that particular area.