Winter Cycling - Suspension Fork for the Winter?

This is my 3rd full winter commuting 10 miles each way. My bike of choice is a '94 Hardtail MTB all commutered up (rack, fenders, pannier, lights, etc.). Last Spring I got a really good deal on a vintage Kona Project 2 suspension corrected stiff fork which I swapped in. I was amazed at the performance gain over my old '94 RockShox Quadra 10. Splendid. This winter I'm thinking a little differently. While I appreciate how my limited travel yesteryear elastomer fork stiffened up considerably in winters past, I'm kind of missing even those very few millimeters of compliance this winter especially when I'm riding on uneven icy surfaces with my Nokian M&G studded tires. I'm definitely keeping the stiff fork for rainy days during the next three seasons, but I was wondering if anybody switches out a stiffy for an old suspension fork for the winter. Next winter I just might.

Yeah, i've used only suspension forks with softer springs or air forks with lower psi, the chatter from icy bumps get's annoying.

I'd never go so far as swapping forks at the beginning and end of every season but I agree with you. I have an old studded tire, drop bar mountain bike to ride in the worst conditions. The suspensions fork is nice when out riding in the chunder. I'm also sold on commuting on a full rigid in better conditions.

This is my 3rd full winter commuting 10 miles each way. My bike of choice is a '94 Hardtail MTB all commutered up (rack, fenders, pannier, lights, etc.). Last Spring I got a really good deal on a vintage Kona Project 2 suspension corrected stiff fork which I swapped in. I was amazed at the performance gain over my old '94 RockShox Quadra 10. Splendid. This winter I'm thinking a little differently. While I appreciate how my limited travel yesteryear elastomer fork stiffened up considerably in winters past, I'm kind of missing even those very few millimeters of compliance this winter especially when I'm riding on uneven icy surfaces with my Nokian M&G studded tires. I'm definitely keeping the stiff fork for rainy days during the next three seasons, but I was wondering if anybody switches out a stiffy for an old suspension fork for the winter. Next winter I just might.

I've replaced the elastomer for a spring in the olden days. I had a Manitou SX that I put Xvert springs in. It worked much better than the elastomer springs did. Now, however, I use air forks. I've never found a problem with them and the fact that I can lock the fork out if I want is a real plus.