I'll repeat myself: I believe you want something to deal with the weather and options range from my el-cheapo tuf-top canopy and jury rigged golf cart cover...all easily removable, to a full factory cab, but you want something.
Loaded rear wheels and chains on all four wheels. Forget the baloney about one or the other axles winding up in 4wd ...just not enough traction, speed, or power to cause trouble. But, at purchase time, make sure that, one way or the other, you have the clearance for chains!
Wider blower on the rear (find another use for the saved money, like biger tractor/blower)...a little practice and it's not hard at all to drive "side-saddle" (assuming that you pre-placed wands at the sides of your drive, as I had recommended above). You are creeping along, after all; this is not like reversing your car or truck up/down the driveway. And there is no need to drive over the snow to blow it (as you would with rear mount forward facing blower) and you can have a FEL on the front. You might think it would be a little easier to get in trouble when reversing, but think of how easy it is to get out when your blower is on the rear...you just turn around, not the tractor and, the FEL can get you out of any bigger problems.
You want HST (or a creeper gear or a clutch mechanic on duty.) With HST you can ease in at full PTO power and take on any depth/density.
If your FEL is quick-attach, you could swap the bucket for a plow, even a hydraulic V..
I had a few other suggestions, but don't want to repeat myself (too much)...my situation is quite similar to yours and I went through all the same decision alternatives.
