In Reply To:
Eric, though I don't require a chainsaw, I drive an SUV to get me where I want/need to go. I live in Boulder, CO and spend a fair amount of time in the backcountry all year. Without 4wd and the clearance of my SUV, I couldn't do that.
Dude, just try going back to a car. I made the switch back (from an SUV) and I am so much happier. Better MPG, more comfortable, more stable, faster, chicks dig it. Sure, I jam things into every spare inch when I do road trips with gear, but it all fits.
Think about it this way, most approaches to hiking or biking trails in Colorado have two trailheads, one for cars and one further up for trucks/SUVs. Why not stop early and hike the rest, or take the real-man's challenge and navigate a 4x4 truck trail with a 5" ground clearance Geo Prism.
My point is that you are better off buying gear for normal use and then having a little challenge when you push it's limits than buying gear for extreme conditions and then wasting it's potential 99% of the time.
-Marc