Thing is, in the places mentioned, there aren't hills like we have where I live. Makes a huge difference in snow and icy conditions.

It also matters when winter temperatures tend to hover around the freezing point vs. well below. It's hard to gain traction when the surface is slippery rather than hard frozen but essentially dry.

I've owned RWD vehicles (e.g., Volvo) in the past, I mean, good cars but useless trying to go up/down a steep incline just after a wet, sloppy snowstorm. To those professing to "know how to drive in snow" with RWD, I've offered the challenge of driving up to my house when our streets are coated with ice-encrusted snow. Nobody has yet taken me up on it.

Even FWD can be insufficient. I've insisted on all-wheel drive at a minimum. My near-ancient 2003 Honda Pilot has a locked 4-wheel range in low gear. There have been times I needed it, and even a few cases where I also had to use chains.

Whether RWD will suffice ultimately depends a lot on environment, road and weather conditions.

I daily drove a RWD Alfa Spider for 5 years year-round in Boston, and a Mercedes diesel sedan (also RWD) for 4 years. The Alfa had a (mechanical) limited slip differential and the MB had snow tires, but that was it.

I could drive either of them until the snow got deep enough to high-center the car. It's not rocket science.