Studs are really only going to make a difference on ice, so depending on your conditions, you may not need studs for winter riding. Where I ride, there often long stretches of refrozen ice, with lots of ruts from bikes and peds. I would certainly fall without studs, so my only option would be to walk the bike.
Occasionally, freezing rain makes my entire route icy and unrideable without studs, and even walking is hazardous. With studs, no problem.