> Demand was high enough that I was told I'd have to pay over retail

Meanwhile the article says "the Ford F-150 Lightning delivered approximately 27,300 units in the US."

I wonder how much dealers lie about these things. They tell you that there's not enough of them to go around, then Ford cancels them, because of what exactly?

There were not enough to go around when it first came out. A couple years latter and everyone who wants one has one and there are plenty. This is normal for new cars - people who want the latest model line up to buy them as they come off the assembly line, then they all have one and sales drop.