I would hardly call the winter one long dreary autumn in SMI, even tho you got locally screwed in your first winter in SE MI and last winter in SW MI. Hell in 2021 I had 15" depth and 2+ foot drifts in my yard in Feb.
For Detroit officially, the last 3 winters finished very close to climo snow-wise.
2021-22: 47.1"...50 days w/ 1"+ snowcover
2020-21: 44.9"...48 days " "
2019-20: 43.7"...41 days " "
For comparison, current 30-year normals are 45.0" snow, 47 days 1"+ snowcover and longterm avg is 41" snow, 50 days.
So while I understand your backyard locally had been screwed to an extent, the last 3 winters in the Detroit area were climo winters which circles back to what Harry alluded to. After so many years being spoiled the 1st 2 decades of this century, average is not acceptable for a snow weenie. Obviously this winter sucks. But with a while to go, it's going to end up in the sucky and forgettable category, not futility