The last time we had snow, a couple of weeks ago, I saw someone down the street actually using some sort of modest flame-thrower device in his driveway. I was driving past so I couldn't stop, marvel and ask him how effective it was. How many passes must you make over several inches of snow, eight feet by twenty, before you've melted it? Or is the intention merely to soften the stuff enough for it to be a doddle to shovel?