dam snoeshoe you know your shit about snow riding science are you a snowman!!!!:xx::xx::xx::xx:they dig in and keep on digging. the flats slip on the snow before the paddle grips so there is a loss of actual traction. there are more pieces of sand in a given area than snow for the same area. so when it is excavated it is gone faster. It is easier to shovel your drive way full of snow than the same depth of sand right.
it is generaly better to grip a small amount of snow and pack in down to provide a base to ride on, of course it too depends on the consistancy of the snow too.
Yes my snowmobile goes through deep powder better with the 2.5 inch paddles than the old 1.5 knobs the track is 144 in long and 15 inches wide but too the track packs the snow together before it uses it for traction. there is obvously more "tire" ,if you will, in contact with the snow at one time.
Big mud tires on trucks work because of the multiple grip points and the tire tries to pack it down some what too. more surface contact with the snow.
Of course you could just skip my explaination and try it. then we'd all know eh?
good luck