We live in heavy snow country. I'm a dedicated snow tire guy since the mid 90s. Until you actually run a real snow tire, you have zero frame of reference for comparison. Many here tout the RL AWD's traction capability on stock tires in snow. Traction is important, but steering and stopping are much more important in everyday snow/ice driving. It's also my opinion that tires and clearance have more to do with snow driving the vast majority of the time that the type of AWD/4WD system.
Our G1 RL came with Michelin LTXs. I considered them marginal when new in snow / ice where we live. They steadily became less effective. By the winter of 2012 and 34K miles, our 2010 FWD LaCrosse with 2 year old Blizzaks easily outperformed the AWD RL in most every snow situation...especially steering and stopping. IMO, it was dangerous to have 2 vehicles so vastly different in handling capability. I bought a set of Blizzaks for the 09 RL and it became a formidable snow vehicle.
Being long retired and now leaving for the winter in early January for warmer climates, I've not bought any snow tires the last several years. We are compromised by this, but we're not forced to drive anywhere when conditions are bad
The 17 G2 RL came with Firestone LE2s. They are worse than the LTXs out of the box. Heading into this winter at 24K miles their performance is bad for all 3 winter driving needs: steering, stopping, and traction. If we were here for the winter, there would be a dedicated set of snow tires put on.
Another reason for my post here is that our 17 300S AWD, also with 24K miles, came with all season Michelin Primacy MXM4s for the stock tire. The 300 easily out performs the RL right now in the snow/ice we have. No comparison. Tires are the main reason for that. Certainly a 2 foot storm and clearance would come into play. Advantage RL then for getting around in deeper snow.
I mentioned this a couple years ago when we got the car and my opinion remains the same going into our 3rd winter with both vehicles. I the RL AWD, but prefer the RWD/AWD bias of the 300 over the FWD/AWD of the RL. IMO, it's much more natural for the slight oversteer of the RWD before the aids kicks in to the understeer/push of the FWD/AWD RL. Aging tires exacerbate the understeer condition in the RL causing the aides to kick in much faster. About the only condition I've yet to make a comparison of the two systems in would a slush condition on the highway.