We can only talk about our experiences where we ride and what we do with it.
Power steering is nice on gravel roads and trails, by the end of the day your shoulders aren't sore. But just a short ride through logging slash, banging your front wheels this way and that makes it an absolute must. My '08 An-Am predates power steering, and boy do I regret it.
I'm following Shane, he's ridden quads since they were called trikes. We are riding through trees rather quickly I thought, and between two tree the root flare bounces his solid axel Honda up on two wheels. Side flips you can bail on, back flips can kill you. I go through that same gap with my IRS Can_Am with no drama at all. That is the difference that an IRS can make.
Even with our powerful quads, we've had to rope two together to get enough pull to get elk out. More than once I might add.
