badass, you are right traction isn't grip, after all having more traction won't necessarily make you go round a corner faster, or be able to stop quicker.
Though I don't agree that a 4wd system won't help you come to a stop in a much more controlled way on loose or ice surfaces, if you are just using the brakes then you are right there is effectively no difference, however I was always taught to shift down a gear or two, and allow the engine braking through all 4 wheels do most of the braking whilst applying only a little pressure to the brakes, and I know from experience that on ice doing that stops me in half the distance compared to brakes alone, and more crucially you don't loose grip and start to spin.
I should point out, that it is also useful advice for 2wd cars, as well as 4wd, though is of no use to automatics