I think a true winter tire (Michelin x-ice, blizzak) without studs may be a better balance than a studded tire. It depends on what you are trying to do really... i live in Washington state (Seattle area) and rain And wet roads are more prominent than ice. That typically compromises the performance of studs as they can reduce the rubber compound on the road when wet and take longer to stop. That being said, there are a few winter days (today) for which I wish I had studs in the morning.
So to answer your question, all tires are a balance, if you are in Bc living in the mountains or at least 50% of the time, then studs may be a good fit. If you are not, then do note you compromise the rest of the time when the temp isn’t freezing. If you want to go off road, then winter tires may not hold up as a true Mt tire, so again... balance. When do you want performance gains and when do you piece of mind.