My thoughts:
1. 4WD is more valuable than an upsized trim level. Trim levels become levelized in value real fast on used trucks.
2. You might not always live in Florida.
3. You might want to one day sell the truck to someone who doesn't live in Florida.
I've been driving trucks for 30+ years and although I live in the mountains now, and no 4WD means you sometimes just don't get out of here in the winter, I'd never go back to 2WD no matter where I lived. 4WD trucks don't just get a transfer case and front axles; lots of trucks (I'm not familiar enough with the Ram) get beefier control arms, bushings, sway bars, stronger transmissions, stronger rear axles, heavier cooling, etc. None of those things alone would make me buy a 4WD if I hardly used it, but the cost difference when new just isn't enough (in my opinion) to justify leaving an option behind that is extremely popular with other buyers. Besides, I've never had a 4WD truck and thought "I wish this was 2WD" while I was driving it, but I have had a 2WD truck and thought the opposite.
That people used to not have 4WD very often is a poor argument. People also used to not have disc brakes, separate master cylinders, air bags, stability & traction control, and lots of other things that might be considered foo-foo 30 years ago but that definitely make a difference in the safety & ability of the trucks. Having 4WD isn't a panacea or a license to drive like an idiot; it's just having one more tool available in the tool box.
So given the choice of 4WD and a one step lower trim or 2WD and a one step up trim, I'd go 4WD all day long. No way are leather accents and fancier wheels more useful or valuable than 4WD to the vast majority of people.