I'm moving to snow shortly and quite want to keep my awd. My only thought with this is it's a cheap way to allow the fun end to spin with damage and stay sealed against dirt/grime/mud/etc.
I'd still have to pull the front shaft and lock the center diff, but I woudln't need to remove the drive flanges. I'd pull the front shaft, unlock the hubs, lock the center diff, and go.
You also can't do the spool and no hubs - that would take you to full time 4WD and would bind up your driveline good the first time you took it on pavement.