What we seldom get, and you do, is wet slushy snow, and that is no picnic. Cold isn't so bad if it is a dry cold, although it will dehydrate you, and you have to be careful exerting yourself to prevent frost damage to your respiratory tract when the temps are well below zero. (Been there, done that, no fun.)
I did away with my snow shovel (well not completely) years ago and bought a two-stage snow thrower (self propelled) for getting around the vehicles and the sidewalk. It'll throw powdery snow a fair distance (30 ft.) but the slushy stuff doesn't go nearly as far or as well. It is good for the conditions here. Electric start was only another $50, and when I thought of trying to pull start it at -30, that decision was a no-brainer.
I'm no fan of contact frostbite, either, and as someone who grew up in a warmer climate long ago and far away, had to learn the patience needed to keep your gloves on to get things done. It's about as efficient as eating soup with a sawed-off canoe paddle, but you get used to everything taking longer in winter.
Another thing I haven't seen addressed on the thread as far as vehicles go is one of lubricants. Motor oils should be synthetic in extreme cold, and gear lube for manual transmissions and differentials should be similarly arctic rated.
We have engine heaters to facilitate starting on the cold days (-10 and colder--some days, <-20, they will not go without one). Having a warm (relatively speaking) engine block can help keep fuel from washing the cylinders and scoring the pistons and significantly extends engine life.
Another thing not mentioned is the survival kit, at bare minimum the means to keep either the occupants or the passenger cabin warm for a few hours. These can be a lifesaver, especially for those who do not dress for being out in the weather.
We’ve had it cold enough for the snow to squeak when you walk and drive on it so I know the sounds you are describing.
Around here it doesn’t usually get that cold but still there are tons of idiots who I’ve seen walking around in t-shirts and shorts in 30 degree weather, as if it’s not cold at all.
The snow we get varies from lake effect, which can be extremely light and fluffy to nor-easter stuff which is shoveling slop because it’s so warm that the water content is very high. That is back breaking work and when it freezes, makes an awful mess.
There are times when you are FORCED to go out and shovel it because it neither goes through the snow blower, and when the forecast is for deep cold, it freezes into a nasty, mess that is difficult to drive and walk on and impossible to shovel off when the next storm hits.