To each their own, but I would curl up and die if I couldn't have 4WD, even though I use it less than 1% of the time, even while out hunting.
When you need it, you need it. I don't buy that it'll only get me stuck further from help. I've used it way too many times to get out of a slimy area that I drove into early when the road was frozen, and came out after the sun came out and melted everything...among many other situations.
Getting out to put chains on to make it through a 10 yard long mud hole just doesn't make sense to me when I can just flip a switch instead. It does cost more and require more maintenance, but I am more than willing to take that trade off.
