Regarding Kyle's lesson, he's wrong. If, for example, one wants to rock crawl, one better have a purpose-build rock crawler or it's going to be a short and dangerous day. If one wants to run a bounty hill, one had better have a purpose built rock bouncer, etc. There's much to be said for having a multi-purpose all-around trail rig, but it's not the only game in town.
Steve,
I kind of started with a beater jeep, and built it up to 35" tires, Detroit etc. It would climb mountains (until it wouldn't), and it would put most Rover folks at a time (almost 20 years ago) to shame. But... in two years, I ran out of local trails and rock piles that I cared for. And the jeep was perfectly unfit for anything but rock crawling.
In 2002, there was a bizarre off-road gathering in Ouray, devoted to an unconsequential 40th anniversary from the day the first full size jeep rolled off the assembly line. After pondering my options, I drove the Disco to that meet, all of 900 miles or so.
For the next few days, the Disco was the only vehicle that has not seen its hood popped up for any other reason than hook up jumper cables to restart fuel-flooded jeeps with large tires. It was also one of the few to not have any issues at that ledge in Poughkeepsie, and one to tow others up that ledge.
Kyle was already working on my conscience at that time.
I tend to view off-roading as a marathon sport, not a mad dash up the ledge or mudhole - both in physical distances involved and years I can enjoy it. Hundreds of people came to this sport and disappeared, having burned out after building their trucks into rumbling wrecks excelling in one purpose.
I am pretty sure you're missing Colorado.