Winter tires: Performance Winter vs Studless Ice & Snow

This isn't a "which winter tire should I get?" thread, but more of a "what TYPE of winter tire is best for climates that actually get winter?"

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Next year I'll have to put new snows on my wagon. (I'm in Minnesota; this year we had lots of snow. It's snowing pretty good now, as a matter of fact!)

Anyway, I'm going back and forth between the "Winter Performance" and "Studless Ice & Snow" categories. I generally don't drive the wagon (it's RWD, not AWD; plus it's got sport suspension, so not a ton of clearance) when it's nasty out, and I'll wait for the plows to come through before taking it out of the garage. I don't plan on driving the BMW if there's a chance of getting stuck in some deep drift. (Our Eurovan is a pretty capable winter vehicle, so I default to that if it's messy. Good clearance, etc...)

But when I AM out in the winter, I do want the car to comfortably handle packed snow and ice. I don't need to race around and go like a bat out of hell around corners, but I'm wondering if the "Studless Ice & Snow" composition is too soft (and will wear too quickly) if many of the roads are plowed and dry.

Leaning towards "Studless Ice & Snow" (as it's better to be safe than sorry), but I thought I'd ask: for those of you who actually do experience "winter," what type of winter tires did you go with, and why?