Maybe I just never notice how bad the blade wipers can get- my pre-drive ritual for the winter includes running my fingers over the blades to insure they're clear and clearing any snow or ice from the little pocket between the hood and windshield. I've done this every time there has been anything more than a light dusting for the last 3 years of winter driving and I can't really complain about ice a whole lot.
I've yet to use the blade wipers in a snowstorm, downpour or highway driving- my XC got taken out by a plow in mid December and I get to pick it up later this week from the shop.
I also replace wipers often and take measures to try and ensure less wear- I don't run them over ice on the windshield, run them dry or anything like that. Taking a rag or wet paper towel out with you to clean the blades does a good deal to help the blades stay clean, give a good wipe and allows you to inspect them often to check for rubber separation, cracking at the base, etc. I never use wipers to clear mounds of snow off the windshield either, I'll run them in powder to break it up and allow my hand brush to work faster, but I never try to wipe a lot of heavy or wet snow/ice.
I have had a set of standard wiper blades with the frame that chipped and rusted out within a week and I blew $15 on them- that led me to the "blades", no metal and less parts to jam/break.