RE: Is it Electric really worth the trouble ?
I don't think winter vs summer is much of a consideration. If it is cold enough, you have to provide some heat to either system to get it to run right. Batteries can be warmed prior to flight, glo engines can be warmed by various methods to get them to the point they will start.
At the age I am at, anything below 50F is meaningless anyway as far as flying models outdoors... ;-)
Woodie