You could also say Ford didn't think their system through during developjment. Kind of like how a bunch of stuff stuff doesn't work without the tailgate installed.So another words saying, they didn't think this through at all during development
This is not the first "extra rear light thing that plugs into the trailer harness for its signals and power source" to exist.
If the Ford trucks are so friggin smart- they should easily be able to tell if there is no trailer but instead just a light device plugged in.