And the dropper post is very heavy compared to a normal seat post...
I only felt the need for it in two tours with MTBs, were it was so steep, that I walked. But I missed more than a dropper post: Better brakes/bigger discs, supension fork, much wider tires. Then I really would appreciate also a dropper post...
Jeff how tall are you? I'm always suprised about the length of the seat posts when I see Creo photos here and often thought "In the U.S. they choose their bikes very very small...". My seat post looks much much lower in real life. But now I saw a photo a took from my bike and seat post looks almost as long as yours. Seems photos or the position of the photographer cause a lot of perspective distortion here...
Accdording to winter weather: I did not have much luck the last three winters for graveling. Two winters ago it was very dry and sunny and my gravel tours were easy due to the flat region, but therefore also soon boring. Last winter also dry and our first one in the new house and area. The landscape here is great and interesting but due to the mountains my gravel tours were very exhausting and short. Now I have the perfect bike with the Creo which allows me three times more mountains/longer tours, almost without limits. But it's really wet and cold this winter, you often don't have the mood to go for a ride. And if you do so, you get sick if you cycle more than two hours... :-(