I doubt that someone else jumping in with both feet will affect Tesla as much as the author thinks but here is a new development:
Did Tesla Just Lose the Battle for Electric Trucks? - DailyFinance
To me it makes sense, GM based trucks for the commercial market and Tesla trucks for the private luxury truck segment of the market.
On the subject of how the truck should look my personal opinion is it should be loosely based on the (non North American) Ford Ranger. I have driven a ranger in Australia and it's a very nice "mid-sized" truck with full-sized capacities.
I am never going to be in the market for something like this but I would think that if it's going to sell in North America it needs power going to the rear wheels. I mean it is going to be a luxury work vehicle and luxury buyers want what they want. I can't see FWD going forward in this market, especially it it is also supposed to be a sporty truck.