The manual mode on auto trannys helped this year in our ice storms. Showed a girl how to use hers to maintain traction on takeoff and she said “Ohhhhhhh... so that’s what the M on the gearshift is for”.
I do agree on the traction control and stability stuff being a PITA when off-road. By the time you remember to disable it, you are generally buried up in the mud. It is good to have on the road though. Got jammed up the other day when crossing a five lane and had to goose it hard due to a speeder coming over the hill, but no tirespin, just traction. Old trucks would have just spun tires there if they had similar power. A 90’s pickup with a 350, 351, or 360 would smoke some back tires on takeoff.
