I was just reading about how, when they debuted the flex the new F150 was supposed to look like the flex front end. This pic definitely isn't a copy of it but there are definite cues with the way the lights seem to drop. As for the half ton to one ton's all looking the same, the only real reason to do it is if they are exactly the same, such as the '92-'96's then they can save money by only making 1 body style, otherwise it is pointless to make them look the same but not be the same size wise.
I always liked the front of the Bronco concept from a few years back, but don't know how it would have looked on a truck. Heck I liked the Bronco concept all together with the little 2.0L diesel. You can see that 3 bar crap in it even 4 years ago:
http://www.diseno-art.com/images/ford_bronco.jpg