Adams addresses exactly that point: he may be more crude in word & demeanor, but when faced with survival (be it from an immediate scare or just ongoing sustenance), he’s the one 2/3rds of people will turn to.
This race isn’t Trump v Reagan, it’s Trump v Hillary. That’s the choice we’ll have to make, and much as you may hate the guy you’re going to prefer the crude “get things done & bring home the money” guy over the “crotchety gramma who will say anything to get you to like her while leaving you worse off”.
In addition to what you said, I’ve been using the analogy of the greyhound vs the junk yard dog, where Cruz could be thought of as a greyhound and Trump is a junk yard dog.
A greyhound might bark, and carry on in protecting a perimeter, but might not be a huge deterrent to some. Right now, I want the junk yard dog. That dog is not elegant, but he flat does the job that needs doing.