I have a hilly dirt driveway that doesn't get much sun. Snowblower generally doesn't get all of the snow, just most of it. I generally prefer winter gets cold, stays cold and then gets warm over changing temperature because the snow will melt partially and then refreeze into ice. Most cars with snow tires do OK on packed snow but ice is tough.

Once it gets frozen like this it pretty stays that way until spring or at least an extended warm spell. The amount of salt I would need is pretty cost prohibitive. I even tried breaking it up with a pry bar a few times and quickly realized that was an insane task. As you said I'd never spray the hill down with warmish water for fear of making the problem worse.