Of course, there is always the experience factor. Drivers who don't get the opportunity to practice driving in snow won't be as skilled as those who do.
But you're right about the city snow removal equipment. Cities here just don't have as much, and don't order as much sand, as cities in more snowy parts of the country.
The only place I usually see sand here in Norman is on the overpasses and main roads. Side streets take forever to get cleared -- usually melts first!