SS,
While there is a few off roaders out there for under $30K, the mass market cannot support these vehicles as the alternative to produce a vehicle more suited to on-road comfort and off-road looks is probably more profitable. In the end, the auto manufacturers are more concerned about shareholder value and gaining market share.
Adding features as standard equipment is a great way to increase profitability. We as a society now demand more features to be standard on vehicles nowadays. Power windows, locks, mirrors etc. Car makers take advantage of that and put in these features and also jack up the base price. Giving consumers more options will cost the manufacturer more in production costs too...so in the end, I think it would be great to have these sorts of 'stripper' vehicles but from the car makers point of view, if they don't have to, they won't.