Yeah, me the same. I'd had the old fashioned type before and wasn't impressed, but these Nokians are a whole different animal
Edmonton has been going to lots of freezing rain in winter, so they have been a godsend in the city, especially on polished intersections and fighting through the Whitemud. You can still slide, but they never completely let go like regular snow tires can at times
They are for people who change their tires late and take them off early, not as tempting to keep them on in shoulder seasons, and they are expensive. And they do sell out. When we looked for a pair for the RX in November they were gone already