Gasser, I think the problem here is a miscommunication of what a rat rod is, You are calling a low budget car a rat rod, where others are calling death trap cars rat rods.
To me a rat rod is a car that the owner has done no repairs to the body, they throw a sloppy primer job on it from a rattle car, most times not even the same color over the whole car, the floor pans are all rusted out, the wheel wells are rusted out, the fenders are held on with bailing wire. the doors are barely held on by the hinges because of the rust. The car smokes when driven. The brakes wouldn't stop your kids go cart. ETC.
From the sounds of your posts you car is not what I would call a ratrod, but a low budget build, backyard build or even a junkyard build. It may not be the high dollar check written car in most car shows, but it was built by your 2 hands, the body was worked on and its safe.