On Jul 23, 2021, Nick Kopernik in Western, CT, USA wrote:
"Does anyone know why the factory would have made an exhaust pipe pointing upwards"?

So it doesn't drag on the pavement when you drive cross the gutter on the way into your driveway. Notice picture above, and the relationship between bottom of muffler, end of tail pipe, and bottom of overrider. They are all in the same plane, lined up with bottom of the tires.

A trailer hitch is usually more protuberant low and to the rear. Anyone with a trailer hitch (or lowered suspension) will tell you what is going to scrape first. Check out the hitch support loop on my trailer. It is bent to that shape because it drags on the pavement going through gutter transitions. Looks like plenty of ground clearance? Well it isn't.