Joe and Jeff, I respectfully disagree with you both about RWD vs FWD.
First I agree that driving a big block pickup truck with no weight over the rear wheels in the snow is a bad idea. It's not even a very good idea in the rain.
BUT, my best car ever in the snow was a 1975 Caprice - I owned it when I lived in New Hampshire in the mid-80's, and I went through an entire winter without snow tires.
I used to drive my '78 Z/28 four speed in the snow, too. Although WITH snow tires.
You actually have more control of your car with RWD than with FWD. After all, when the drive wheels start slipping on your Jetta or Civic you can no longer turn - you are just going to continue sliding in the same direction. With RWD, you can steer with the front, and use your throttle to steer with the rear.

You noly lose your steering if you lock the brakes.
With a good set of siped (not studded) snow tires, and taking care not to overpower the available traction, I would much rather have a rear drive car in any snow or ice conditions. Just add today's anti-lock and traction control technology, and that goes double!
Check out this article for more info on FWD vs RWD...
http://slate.msn.com/id/2081194/
-Sam