Just need to vent...

As someone who has lived on snow and ice all his life and have used many tires, I do suggest a tire that is at least M+S rated, like all season tires. I drove most of my life in RWD cars with all-season tires. They aren't the best, but they work better than summer or bald tires. If you have the money, then Cross Climate 2's are a great option. Anymore I also go for the all-weather tires that are like all-season tires, except they are rated for winter with the three peaks and snowflake symbol.

The thing that gets me is a lot of people get it in their mind that they have to the absolute, and that will make them invincible, and that they need it regardless of the cost. Sure, a 4WD pickup with dedicated winter tires can go places I can't in my FWD Avalon with all season tires. But for the most part, public roads aren't those kinds of places,. And it still doesn't take much to slide off the road in AWD or 4WD modes even with studded winter tires. Ice is still ice. Snow is still snow. And my Avalon costs me less than $500 per month in total expenditures, including saving for really good tires.