I live in a rural area that is eco-conscious, which means that you cannot use salt on roads and individuals are responsible for parking lots and sidewalks and few bother with salt (there is a fee, I believe if you use salt on over a certain number of sq. feet). We have alternative products that are used on the highways, and most people use sand, which is clean (washed to meet eco requirements), so I never deal with the salt staining that people talk about, which is probably why I have no problem wearing leather boots year around.
Mud is our big thing, but only really when the snow isn't deep on the ground -- I have a gravel driveway, as does the SO and the heavy gravel keeps most the mud off. Still, any decent weatherproof boot should be protected enough from water that it also is protected from mud stains.
My mother has had the same pair of white Sorels for the last 20 years. They are waterproof, so although they get muddy you wash them right off. No yellowing. The light silvery grey also is a fab color.
I have a pair of big black snowpac boots, but 90% of the time I wear my rough-out gortex combat boots (mil-spec) and a pair of gators if the snow is over mid-calf. My docs and la canadiennes are just as good in snow under 6" deep. Our snow is very dry though.
