[...] Main reason for purchase was to be able to access rougher campsites with our pop-up camper - [...]
I'm definitely not building an overland vehicle - the vehicle is a means to an end.... [...]
I bought our LX470 for the exact same reason! It is an awesome vehicle to go camping. Enjoy!
As for the running boards, I did eventually remove them. But I have to admit it was mostly for aesthetic reasons. I don't have a lot of cool looking stuff on the truck so this was an easy way to make it look a little more overlandish (I do see Dissent bumpers in my future though ...). I don't miss them (my daughter does a little bit but she is ok with waiting until we get some sliders).