Grill & bumper protection, skid plate replacement?

Sorry for noob questions. I'm not much of a shadetree mechanic and this is my first truck and first 4x4 and I'm trying to learn all I can about it and how to maintain it properly--I plan to keep it most likely until I lose the ability to drive in a couple of decades.

1. It is parked elsewhere right now or I'd go look but I heard these come with a plastic skidplate. Should I replace it with a "real" one? I will be going up in the mountains but don't expect I will ever do hardcore-articulated-jeep-rock-crawling in it; more possible to slam over unseen curbs or parking lot chock blocks.

2. I really want to get nice-looking grill protection...I like the way those big chrome bars look. Have been researching the many options and would love some resources to read about pros/cons of each design. Tending toward something that will protect the headlight area also, but suppose a good "bull" bar might also work. Want to leave the possibility for a winch (which brings up its own discussion points such as someone telling me to mount it backwards(??) so it doesn't stick out...or something...ugh. But that is for a different thread.)

Comments and links are very welcome, TIA!