Aye, just found this which confirms what you guys are saying:
"You do not need front suspension in the winter. Its a nice to have for the few bumps, but it adds weight and may cause issues in really cold weather. A carbon fork would be a better option for the powder. A suspension fork is definitely a welcome addition when ditching your mountain bike during the summer, and you can always add it later. Just make sure the frame is suspension corrected."
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