Originally Posted by clasher

A front disc wheel is weaker than a non-disc front because of wheel dish. Disc rims can be made into a lot stronger shapes that could be stronger than a non-disc rim but that's only part of the wheel build's total strength which has most to do with the number and strength of each spoke.

I've ridden rim brakes in the winter and they do in fact work fine after one or two rotations with the brakes engaged to clear the rim. It sounds like you've never actually ridden in the snow if you think windchill causes ice to form on the rims. For my winter commuting I think drum brakes are better but that's way off-topic.

Given the OP's trollish question and budget I think a tiagra level road bike and a disc trucker is the answer to the question. I don't race but I doubt the OP is already at the fitness level were a tiagra-level bike would be "holding him back" and who doesn't think two sweet bikes is better than one?