This. I have no hesitation taking our Subaru Wilderness Forester up the beach or thru the snow. Doesn't have quite the clearance, but I echo your thoughts there.
Just did the same trip, maybe with some different detours, in early August to attend the Moab Off-Rodeo. 4000 miles in total by the time we got back to home by way of Rocky Mountain National Park and the Badlands.
Such an amazing journey, and like you mentioned completely different than what...