>The liability is a red herring because technically that land is not yours if it is adjacent to the public road (at least in Minnesota)

That is not true in most places I have ever lived, the Side Walk is an "public use easement" that the property owner is required to keep in good working condition at their expense including removing snow, mowing, ensuring it is not blocked, and does not pose a hazard

In every city I have lived The city can and will fine the property owner if the snow is not cleared with in 24 hours, if you allow a guest to block the sidewalk by parking over it (i.e more than a few cars in your drive where the care intrude in to the sidewalk) or of cracks or other hazards appear.

We just had to pay to have the sidewalks replaced in front of my grandparents home (who are dead but the family still owns the home) because there were in disrepair.