"Some", which is what, just Rivian? I wouldn't take our dual-motor Hyundai Ioniq 5 down anything more technical than a forest road, if only because of its (IIRC) 7 inches of ground clearance. And I imagine the AWD software is tuned to icy suburban streets, not something like this trail. Best I can tell, the AWD is supposed to get you to the ski slopes, not down the Rubicon.
The actual letter says “High clearance 4WD”. There’s more to off-roading than traction.
What is considered "high"?
The Rivian R1T's clearance goes up to 14.9 inches, and has a motor per wheel. Does it count?
Probably? I think greater than 9” is considered high clearance, but the actual required clearance likely depends on the particular trail.
No, off-roading is about having the right equipment that doesn’t cause other people problems or problems that you regret. If I’m on a well-graded gravel road, it should be fine to take a Ferrari on it without stupid rules getting in the way.
These rules are not applied to "well-graded gravel roads." There are specific routes that require the specific equipment, and none of the requirements are unreasonable given the demands of the terrain.