I know some of the quick-change loader attachments are very quick and easy. Myself, I'd rather have everything I need already on the tractor. To me, loaders aren't very useful for snow removal, but they sure are useful for stacking it and pushing piles around. The bucket gets winter use other than snow as well. I just want the loader there and ready to go when I want to use it, and that means 3ph stuff for me. I just got used to driving backwards and don't even think about it anymore--no problem. My gear transmission does have 4 reverse gears, and I imagine that HST's also will run over at a wide ground speed range in reverse. However, I don't think I'd want to stick myself with a lot of work in reverse if there were only 2 reverse gears. I use a blower, and the engine has to be run near PTO RPM. There isn't much variation in ground speed except through the gears.
You might come to grips with the idea of grading gravel drives before you buy a blade. An inexpensive blade, front or rear, may not be the tool you end up wanting. I do have canopy lights front and rear, but I'm able to do the work during the day unless there's a really big snow.
