Yeah the rear gate on mine was rusted through too.
What is wild is a guy with a 2001 would come into my work and his was immaculate, no idea if he replaced panels or what. Only problem it had was the rear heater core and evaporator got leaks so it had to be bypassed and blocked accordingly, which made bleeding the coolant after water pump replacements a pain in the dick.
Absolutely this. Chocolate is a substance and vanilla is a flavor. You can give something chocolate flavor, bit not vanilla substance. Well, if you gave vanilla flavor a vanilla substance, it would be an atrocious experience.