ABS annoys me. ABS is to stopping as a differential is to acceleration. The wheel with the least traction dictates the effective traction of each of the other wheels.

Thus when one wheel hits a patch of ice just as you roll up to a stop sign, the brakes on the other three wheels release and you skitter into the intersection, because God forbid that one wheel should skid a little.

So in many situations ABS does not stop you in the shortest distance. What it does do is help keep you going straight. A good driver can modulate the brakes and stop quickly without spinning out, but it takes skill. The average idiot just mashes down on the brakes anyway, so ABS is helpful to him.

The lowest common denominator strikes again.

IR, I suggest you take your car to a nice empty parking lot the next time it snows and get some practice with how it responds.