Agree, it's pretty stupid to have Sport and 2H "fuel saver" default mode.
Nobody has fess’d up to this, it’s probably too complicated to program out. The NavTV folks did have a ‘last drive mode memory’ module, but they stopped selling it because it wasn’t 100% reliable.
The issue is the accursed “drive modes”. When you flip up the drive mode selection, the truck has no options to retain the transfer case setting or alter the transfer case setting. The only saving grace is that the transfer case doesn’t change from the ignition cycle, so if you shut down in selected 4a sport, the truck wakes up in 4a normal(eco) mode.
You can use a pedal commander and auto stop/start eliminator and you need sport mode about 85% less. Or, you can select manual shift mode as needed and de-select when you’re done.
It would be great if, like motorcycles that cost 1/5 what a Raptor does, Ford would allow some tailoring to the drive mode default values. Like making 4a the default sport t/c setting, with an option to select 2h, and maybe a gradient of stiffness, stability and traction control in the street modes, etc. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely to happen.