Not more splody. Less splody. Don't think of it as a hitch. Rather, think of it as "a bolt-fastened externally visible energy-dissipating chassis component with integrated towable vehicle connection provision" and it makes more sense. Big chunk o' thick walled steel hard mounted to the rear of the frame acting as a structural member and tank shield. Chances are it's many times stronger than the frame railes it will be attached to. Ford had to do this on the Excursion, but not for tank protection. The rear hitch wasn't just a rear hitch. It was also an anti-submarine bar to keep smaller vehicles from running too far under the rear overhang in a collision (helps keep the Prii from sticking in the underpinnings should unintentional contact occur).
Brad