[Mike97ZJ]

When you think about it, where else can they put it?

Put it on the back gate, and it blocks rearward visibility and adds an extra step to opening the hatch. Also, some people, as MAC said, just don't like the look.

There really isn't room underneath the vehicle for a 35" tire, especially not with all that air suspension stuff back there. To fit the tire under there, they most likely would have to lengthen the vehicle (there goes your departure angle) and raise the load floor.
Plus, for those H2 owners that wheel, the spare would hang down low and smash on rocks and ledges. And then if you happen to get a flat while being stuck in the mud, have fun getting the tire out from under there. And then you have the stupid handle that you have to use to crank the spare down, what a PITA.

I feel your pain about having the spare in the cargo area- mine is mounted in the exact same place. It does take up quite a bit of cargo room. It doesn't hamper my visibility though. I haven't yet found a rear mounted tire rack that I like yet, and I don't like the idea of it on the roof. I think it looks good on the roof, but I don't want all that extra weight up there to raise my center of gravity, and plus, I already have enough wind noise and bad enough gas mileage as it is. I DO plan on making a roof mount for it, just so I can put the tire up there in the off chance that I need all the extra cargo room. Probably when I drive out to the beach with a cooler, camp stove, firewood, lawn chairs, etc. Not a whole lot of cargo room for all that stuff in a Grand with the tire back there.