Yes, there is a long way to go, especially with the late week system.
I agree with your point that I would rather be looking for a north trend with 5 days to go in a set up like this.
As for the early week storm, we will need to watch the short range model trends over the next couple of days. I think many of us will see 3 to 6 inches of snow by the time this first event ends by Tuesday night. I also hope for a little mix at the end to put a nice glaze or crust on top of the snow!