That was the big sell of the older Dakota wad they were only midsize trucks to offer a V8 option. The Colorado came later with that option, but only for a few years.
More than that, for a long while, the Dakota was the only midsize truck. S-10, Sonoma, Ranger, Toyota (nameless than Tacoma), and Nissan Frontier all started out as compacts. Even Colorado and Canyon were initially compact trucks. There really wasn’t another midsize until the middle 2000s. So for almost two decades, they held that class to themselves.
And it took several years after Toyota and Nissan were selling midsize trucks for GM and Ford to join. Heck, Ford didn’t in the US until 2019.
You’re right; the midsize market is much more crowded total. But that also indicates demand is much higher. I have little doubt Ram could make a more stylish midsize than the rest. Does that matter, and can they do that at a price that’s competing?