Hello TD,
Personally I never believed in 4 tire changes. I always imparted common sense while winter driving and I have often been places in weather others feared to be out in. I often prided myself in my driving and rarely got stuck (4wd or not).
A few years ago I did manage to get stuck in a spot I felt I should have been able to navigate. To be honest with you it frustrated me and encouraged me to look at 4 tire changes. The next winter I took the plunge. As fate would have it I was traveling the same spot with the same car. This time I made the grade under the same conditions. I was sold! To this date I have continued to purchase 4 tire changes and where I live they are not required. I also own a vehicle that is AWD and I still believe in the change.
To your point of what really matters is common sense - I absolutely agree. Unfortunately many people lack said quality and that forces the politicians to govern to what could be called the "moron majority".
Unfortunately this past winter the occasions to really use the winter tires were limited with the lack of winter...although mine came in very handy on a couple of occasions.
Spring is about to be sprung.
Keep having fun.
Jman