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AWD does not replace good tires, period (even though it does according to Colorado Law).
Good all season tires can be almost as good as good winter tires. But there's also a reason for the difference between all-season and winter tires (although now you can buy tires with both ratings called all-weather tires. My current tires are all-weather and actually perform better than the last set of winter tires I had purchased in the winter and do just as well as an all-season during other parts of the year).
With pressure, I don't second guess the manufacturer. On the other hand, the manufacturer is talking about cold tire pressure. If I inflate my tires to 33psi on a summer morning, then by the time I get driving around that pressure can and will get up past 40psi. Hence, if I'm going to be driving around short distances I keep it up at around 42psi, then let it back out before going on a highway trip.
In the winter, first of all the summer pressure of 33psi will be less than 33psi, depending on the temperature. And even if I fill my tires to 33psi on a cold winter morning, chances are they'll never heat up enough to get me up past 40psi. So instead I add some 3 to 5psi more, around 37psi. That way, as I drive down the highway they fill up to their normal pressure due to the little bit of heat generated from driving. If I'm going to be driving only short distances, then I fill up to 42psi as I normally do.
Small vs big contact patch has been argued for centuries. But if you ever compare a winter tire to a summer or all season tire, you will notice that even with the same sized tire the tread width is less on the winter tire than the others. My experience of 30 years driving in Colorado has also led me to believe that smaller contact patches on snow and ice is generally better.
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