Winch?...depends on how old you are, how strong your back is, and how creative you are. I should add "how smart you are" too, but strong back and smart are often an odd combination.
Anyway, I have never had to walk away from a stuck machine, but I tend to avoid "mud-bogging" situations when possible. I would rate a winch as "nice to have" though I see that moving up the scale as the calendar rolls. Getting the winch as part of a new rig package is probably the least money. Often times a dealer may not dicker much on price, but may be agreeable with lower-priced add-ons in order to sweeten the deal instead.
