It's a bit confusing when you look at their site. If you bring up the main spec's page it lists the 6.8, but if you click on the PowerTech engine it lists the 8.1 for the 95 and 96. You obviously have more accurate info than I do. I do think you would notice a difference between your 9500 and a 10 series. I sure have, but my 9500 was also an earlier model than yours ('93). I'm like you in that I'd rather see them stick with the bigger engine, but it does seem to be a trend among quite a few of the companies to go with smaller, 'hotter' (for lack of a better term) engines. Not sure if emissions have anything to do with it, but it's a possibility.