Calling these vehicle work trucks is absolutely a valid description, but it's also a limiting one. Consumer pressure has forced the car companies to up the ante on the creature comforts in these trucks, and at the moment GM may very well have the lead on that.
Essentially, the interior of one of these trucks is just as nice a place to spend time, as is the interior of a car that costs as much money. There was even considerable attention paid to the amount of noise, vibration and harshness experienced by the occupants, and it paid off.
There was also the question of ride comfort and handling ability, and here again the Sierra and Silverado heavy-duty models proved to be impressive. All pickups are better than they used to be, but as the most recently revised model (in 1998) the GM models are perhaps the most competent in these areas.
They're trucks, to be sure, and that means they're not as nimble and stable as a good car. But they're impressively pleasant to ride in and, within their set, they are the most competent at handling.
Given the particularly remarkable performance of their engines, the exemplary nature of the package surrounding those engines, and the comfortable interior surroundings, the 2001 GM heavy-duty pickups are going to make a lot of people smile that smile.