Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I have looked online for website information on these two products and then on many forums, both here and elsewhere, including those for lawnmowers, cars, motorcycles, and boating.
There is almost 100% universal support for Sta-Bil and Seafoam, but you have people who like one or the other better, maybe a few who like both.  It depends on their experience and which product they came by first.

1)  One poster said his mechanic advised him not to use Sta-Bil in cold weather since it doesn't mix well with the gas.  The poster has a new Ariens 11528DLE that was experiencing starting/operating problems.  He was told the Sta-Bil was the problem since it didn't mix well with the gas and was causing gumming in the carburetor.   He was advised to use Seafoam.  The guy then drained the gas from his snow blower and put new gas in with Seafoam.  He said that did the trick.  That was the only comment out of probably nearly 200 I have read saying anything bad about Sta-Bil.  Is there any truth to this comment that Sta-Bil doesn't do well in cold weather?  By the way, the Sta-Bil MSDS sheet says it is 95% natpha (you know, white gas/starter fluid/mineral spirits, etc. type of fuel distillate), and 5% "proprietary ingredients".

2)  One of the ingredients in Seafoam (according to their MSDS sheet) is IPA (isopropyl alcohol) to help suspend water.  A few posts say that Seafoam actually contains a small portion of water, not mentioned in the MSDS since its just water.  What would Seafoam be accomplishing by having water in their formula, just to turn around and put in IPA to counteract it?  Crazy.  Is this even true that Seafoam has water in it?  Seafoam's MSDS sheet says it is 40-60%  "pale oil", 25-35% natpha, and 10-20% IPA.  So what's the real deal with Seafoam?  Better than Sta-Bil, or is this just an endless debate of who likes what?  What is "pale oil?"

3)  Some posters say follow your machine's manual by running the gas out of your machine and draining the carburetor.  Some say to not do that as you may encourage moisture condensation.  Others say go ahead and use your fuel stabilizer, run the machine for a few minutes to get the mixture into the carburetor and the rest of the system, and then just leave the mix in the tank during storage.  What is the best way?

4)  I'd like to hear some reliable opinions from some mechanics out there who can give me some factual opinions about these two products that everyone, it seems, thinks are the greatest things to use. 

Thanks for the help.