I did a little cost benefit analysis for the wife last night. I bill out at $80/hour, and over the past 2 days I have spent about 6 hours shoveling, shoveling again, and yes, re-shoveling (I don't have a big lot either...only about 7,000sf). They sell a moderate sized snowblower at thre local big box for about $350, so I showed that it would be more effecient to have the snowblower. We shall see!
Cement: I agree about the satisfaction thing, but I agree with MA_PE regarding the snowblower vs. shoveling thing. I have neighbors on either side of me that refuse to shovel, and so the sidewalk goes like this: covered in about 2 feet of snow, clear, easy walkway, covered in about 2 feet of snow. Being the anal engineer, it drives me nuts!
MA_PE: I used my FIL's on Christmas Day to clear his driveway...I'm hooked!