That's what I thought too, the first time I tried them was in 2015 where the was probably close to 4 feet of snow, I sunk down quite a ways, not like in the movies.
Me and my wife got a couple pairs there too and they've served us fine for the last 5-6 years, we don't go a lot so it's not heavy wear on them but they look like they're built well.
No, not last year but there's been some years where she's had a deep pack and we just have piles down here or maybe a few inches. I think she's in a good spot for the inverted trough, seems she's had a couple that got that area pretty good.
I lost all but piles, it poured like hell Christmas eve, I remember trudging through quite a bit of snow at my brother in laws Christmas Eve and the next morning we saw grass.