This has been a very interesting read. There are people who are very tied to 4WD and there are those very tied to AWD. To some degree, the argument will never end :). Having driven a my old 4WD 4-Runner and my brothers Outback through some Masschusetts winters, I can say both performed admirably. Both systems have their merits and drawbacks. Which one is better for you really comes down to your needs. In terms of how well any of them function, however, I think comes down to the ability of the driver. If you don’t know how to drive in inclement weather and/or on various surfaces, and you think AWD or 4WD is there to magically do all the work for you, then you’re an idiot. You can have the best tools in the world, but that won’t matter much if you don’t know how to use them.