The chains help a LOT! Notice I'm running Ag tires. With Ags, the conventional ladder-type chains tend to drop between the lugs where they do no good at all. These Norse chains are a smaller version of skidder chains. The drawbacks are (1) they are about 135# each, so getting them on requires finesse, and (2) those ice lugs tear the heck out of asphalt! That's not a problem at my house since the nearest asphalt is half a mile down the hill.
I considered a 7 or 8' blade, but since I move a lot of dirt in the thawed out months I decided to stick with a 6 footer. The rear hydraulics (remote, hoses, cylinder installed) ran me about $700 give or take. Not familiar with the 3000DT, so can't offer any advice there.
Pete