I'd go for a 26" wheeled bike in a heartbeat with that shopping list. For summer tires, IMO you can't beat Hutchinson Top Slick, and it's available as 26X1", there's Conti Sport Contact, Geax Street Runner, and probably some others.
Winter tires, also a good selection. Suomityres, Schwalbe, Kenda all do 26" studded in various stud counts.
You'll have no problem with standover or fender clearance.
Then again, I'm notoriously unfaithful WRT bike specifics.
I ride aluminium and steel, and CF when I can get it, all with the same happy unconcern of what's there.
A good ride is a good ride, regardless of molecules and wheel size.
Fit, function and cost are my priorities.
Did my first years of commuting on an aluminum frame, with plenty of salted roads (I do 6000+ miles/year, so maybe 2000/year on salted roads), and nothing bad ever came out of that as far as frame/fork was concerned.)
The post in general looks like you're more concerned with the recipe than the meal, which probably makes your search more difficult than it'd need to be.