Ok, I'll give this dead horse of a thread another whack myself.
I had a new 2WD '89 Bronco II with a nice LSD. Good tires, it went almost anywhere. Nice, flexy suspension and well balanced off road.
I later had a new '92 Suzuki Samurai. Open Diffs on both axles. Even in 4WD with it's stock suspension and street tires it would just spin opposing wheels when met with the slightest offset mounds. Hell, even on flat gravel (though steep) inclines.
So, it is sort of a toss up on the type of vehicle and how dramatically each of the two impacts it's performance in low traction situations.
I CAN say that my latest Suzuki Samurai with a long flexy suspension and full time locker out back (never recommended on a street driven vehicle) is absolutely unstoppable. Almost. EVERY vehicle has it's limitations.
The Power Wagon is the perfect traction aid combo, as it is just loaded with "layers" of traction aids: Flexy Suspension, Good tires, LSD in the rear always working, and the selectable Lockers, both Front and Rear. Then, add in the Electronic "Genies" like Traction Control and Stability Control, etc. and it gets nuts. That, despite it's size, makes it a complete animal. And as a final back up, it has the Winch. You have to WORK to get this thing loose trying to play around and ralley a gravel road or bust a donut to get out of a tight spot. I would actually prefer no electronic Nannies at all. Period. But, it is a damn fine -almost- Idiot proof truck, though it has been briefly stuck.
For me, all that gear is heaven. I use all that and more. That is me, in my current "extreme" environment and in the way I choose to use it.
Probably 95% of all other truck owners would be wasting their money with any of that. Not bragging or trying to be macho. As a city dweller One year ago, I would have had little use of any of that. If I KNEW I wouldn't need it, I wouldn't buy it. If I didn't have the 4WD or any other of those individual pieces to the traction puzzle, I would tread lightly and be very aware of me and my vehicle's limitations.
Carry On...