BBK, unless people understand that winters are not only used exclusively in the snow, then you're preaching to the wrong crowd.
I run my winters as soon as the temps drop below 7C, which is usually late October/early November.
Ran them this year until about late Feb, so that's about three months. This is my second year on these and the wear rate is brilliant.
Still loads of tread left, it also seems that the tread is deeper than summer tyres anyway.
If anybody still needs convincing, then just look at Germany, where you are required by law to run winters.
Hence why this time of year you see most germans driving with steelies wrapped in winter rubber.