Some are really bad, some are not.

All other things being equal, fwd will be better than rwd, but all things are not equal in real life.

I’d rather have a 1985 Volvo 240 than a 2003 Toyota Echo, but I’d rather have a 2003 Toyota Echo than a 1995 Ford Mustang

True winter tires such as Bridgestone Blizzak or Michelin X-Ice more than even the playing field. They are incredibly effective. Have driven over the pass in heavy snow many times in a RWD mini-van and driven right past front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles with normal tires on.

Winter tires are required here but I’d rather take a RWD car with winter tires over an SUV with all seasons.

I drove compact 2wd pickups through upper Midwest winters. You just need some decent tires and some weight in the back if it’s light in the back like a pickup. I now have a 4wd 1/2-ton pickup with a non-locking rear-end (Ford F150). If I really wanted to, I could make it through an entire winter in 2wd. You just have to take it slow and be easy on the gas pedal.

Another anecdotal experience. I had a Honda Civic coupe. I had some nice all-season tires on it - Goodyear Tripletred. I went through a snow bank in an intersection left from the plows without any issue. And Audi SUV next to me got stuck. I assume they had shitty/old/bald tires.

tl;dr - Good tires and good driving are key.

I also live in Canada and we barely get any snow.

It’s almost as if it’s a massive country with many different climates

I drove a 72 Nova all winter in Alaska without winter tires. It was tricky but you get used to it. Stopping way in advance and slow takeoffs. But the tradeoff is that it’s fairly fun to break it loose a little and drift those short corners.

You can do it. But it’s not as safe without snow tires. It also depends on the car. RWD car is slightly better than a small RWD light pickup like a range.

For decades that’s all people had in snow.

In Detroit you’d place a bag of cement in your trunk for the winter.

I did hit a very nasty patch of black ice on the highway once. Slowed down safely, so did the cars around me. But down the road there were a couple of slight turns and the sides of the road were full of cars that didn’t make it. Those were Subarus, trucks and some SUVs - basically majority 4wd cars.

Bottom line that people often forget - all the cars slow down with 4 wheels and steer with 2 wheels. Those are the most important actions that keep you alive and well and they are absolutely equal between cars.

What kinda car is clearing 14 inches of snow? Dude you need a lifted truck for that.

I live in Montana and prefer RWD, you just have to tailor your driving to your vehicle. I daily drive an '82 Chevy pickup without ABS, been doing it for years.