>> I'll balance out the negativity about studded tires.
Me, too. Not all studded tires are created equal.
I'm on Nokians, and they way they are designed, on dry roads we have both rubber AND tungsten stud contact with the pavement.
The first winter I was riding these, there was a day with pretty heavy snow, and i saw a patch of ice and headed for it, thinking "finally some traction" -- and then I thought, wow, these are some pretty spectacular tires.
Studes alone on dry ground are miserable, absolutely agree. But I've never slipped sideways on mine. I will admit to being chicken careful, though.
cheers -mathias