Actually in California you DESPERATELY need 4x4. Where else can you wheel in isolated country from lake, to lake, to lake...for weeks on end.....?

4x4 is for 2 reasons, Need and recreation. More of us have it for recreation then need. Modern traction control systems mean incredible highway performance in the snow. I would not even consider living in a snowy area without it. NEW systems DO ALOW for higher speeds.(I know that will generate flaming) And if you work in construction, live in the sticks, ect you might need it.

Recreation wise I use it for fourwheeling primarily, but many outdoor hobbies require 4x4 to safely get to a location. Fourwheeling cannot be done without 4x4. Yes, you might make it through other hobbies if you dont mind an occasional stuck.

If you are one of those " Why heck, my bad A$$ 4x2 can go anywhere your 4x4 can" you are sadly mistaken. You wont get far on even a basic 4x4 trail applying full, violent throttle. I have experimented around some,(even with a rear locker on in 2wd) and without that front wheel pulling, youll go nowhere. Even open diffs provide little capability.

The Mexico story, is an interesting, common one. I went to Mexico at Christmas in our new 05. Not only did I not worry about the hundreds of miles of easy to moderate roads, but I crossed the hardest trail, and one of the most beautiful locations in Baja off the to do list, stock except for sliders. 2wd? Try a 24 mile BACK PACKING trip. And, even a simple trail in Mexico has silt pits that had me frantically grabbing for the 4x4 dial to keep from getting stuck. You can see the Baja 1000 vehicles plow into them. Buy a SUV or Off-Road truck and get 4x4, otherwise get a mini-van