It's definitely not as pleasant, and the required prep has led to a culture of not biking during winter conditions in many places.

Ice is often not a problem with studded tires - it can be, but it's rarely been my primary concern when out and about. Loosely packed snow - the kind where you sink down a bit - has been far more problematic.

Salt is a double-edged sword in many ways. It will corrode your bike a lot faster, so being good about cleaning becomes more important in winter, and you might want to have a separate winter-bike for the purpose. Salt improves road conditions as far as bikes are concerned though, making it on balance a good thing for the winter biker.

Snow banks narrowing the road surface is also a bit problematic in some places, in particular where there is no bike infrastructure in place. Taking the lane can be necessary in some cases.