I live in Maine and drive a LR RWD with 18" aeros. With snow tires, I feel I can go anywhere I need to go without issue.
I do try to wait until the roads have been plowed and sanded before going out. While not essential, I simply think it's safer, no matter what I am driving that day, to wait until the roads have been treated. And I, too, see a lot of AWD ICE cars off to the side of the road or stuck in a ditch after a storm.
One caution--order your winter tires NOW. The 18" size Michelin and Nokia winter tires sold out early last year and a lot of folks went without or settled for a different brand.