I have no idea how,much snow you would need to get stuck. I drive often (not later than several weeks ago) on 15-20cm on steep gradients opening the road early morning (road to My-Tendre for instance). No problem at atl. Of course you need the right tires...and a bit of experience. Your mention of diff lock on snow I can't imagine what kind of situation you would need to put yourself into? Going off road onto the snow ? Yeah sure but why would you do that in this case I would get a Range Rover anyway...
i think a lot of people just because they have a SUV think they can go anywhere but they actually don't have snow driving experience. I am I think in the exact same situation on the sand, I just did 5'300km on gravel/ sand roads in Africa. There was this time I almost got stuck, and I had a proper car with off-road tires, diff lock, low gear...but I can't "read" the sand. In the same place guys from South Africa who do this often where just hovering...no idea how and they even had "street" tires. I asked one of the guys and he didn't use diff lock at all, he just does not get stuck most of the times because of experience in those conditions.
I tend to think same on snow...and I won't mention drivers from some of our surrounding nations but surely some people have no clue and no car brand is going to help :)
now back to business - any hint on 997 second hand? :) already a 997c2 and this time I reallly want the wide body look. I am thinking post 2007 to minimize IMS problems and even a base 3.6. This will be my weekend car...so I need a sunroof and PSE over anything else...Realiability is a priority for me - I am one of those poor guys who had a 996 engine blow up and it was not a happy moment for and my bank account....
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996C4, Artic silver (gone) 997C2S, Seal/black, -20mm LSD, PSE (gone) 986S, Arctic Silver (gone)
It would look great on his R8 
