Do we really need winter tyres in the UK? I thought the purpose was to have more grip in snowy conditions but unless you're living in the middle of nowhere your normal tyres are fine?
Definitely depends where you live, I'm in the north east of Scotland and winter (cold weather) tyres make my life a lot easier. It's not just about snow, although they are obviously more suited to those conditions, but for the next 4-5 months it will mostly be below freezing when I'm commuting to and from work. (-23C worst I've seen) In these cold, and often wet conditions, it is so much easier to drive with tyres designed for purpose.
My Mk5 GTI with good summer tyres (Goodyear F1's) had the steering accuracy of a sledge in the snow or slushy conditions, and the improvement in all cold conditions make it the sensible choice for me.
Pity my winter tyres for Mk5 won't fit on my PP equipped Mk 7

Got a set of 225-40-18 winter tyres from Camskill for a reasonable price, will probably get at least 3 winters out of them and obviously will not be using my summer tyres for any miles at this time. Cost wise over 3 years it pretty much evens out for me with not having to replace my summer tyres so often.
Big hit this time though as I've decided to put BBS alloys on for the winter

, couldn't bear having rubbish alloys on my new car

, and too much to ask that the tyre fitting monkeys don't damage the original alloys if I were get them changed over twice a year.