Tips getting around in snow? Traction control makes car useless

So we got our big snow in the early morning of the 26th.

I plow the drive way with the atv and the neighbor and I teamed up and plowed the street leading to the highway. (Street crews around here suck at clearing streets, they have 2 pickup trucks to do the work)

I start up the prius and back it out of the drive way, I stop, put it in drive, it lurches forward about 3-4inches then stops. I put it in reverse, doesn't move, I barley touch the gas it moves backwards about 2-3inches then stops. Get out and notice the driver side tire is on a smashed chunk of snow.

Neighbor gives me a 1-2ft push and I am on my way. I break early while approaching the stop sign, I stop, after another car slides through, I let off the brake and I'm stuck again!!! after15-20mins of screwing around trying to get on my way, I drag the car with the atv into the drive way.

I get in my wife's car with more tread wear on the tires, I might spin for a second or two, but have been driving around in this winter wonderland with no problems.

The driveway is now partly dry/ partly wet, prius drives up and down it with no problems. I even floor it, tires slip just a little but still no problems. I drive it to the stop sign where there is some slush/ice. Damn thing just sits there. Wife's car, tires might spin one revoloution but the whole time the car is moving.

Do pri really suck this bad in these kind of conditions?

Or do I need to fork out $125 per Studded tire just so I'm prepared for this kind of weather?

FYI, this snow fall is more than what my area of Indiana has gotten for the last 3 years COMBINED! In other words, our average annual snow fall is roughly 4-6inches... But basically consists of 10-12 "light dustings" for the year.