VXNIT,
Just chiming in here with my two cents - don't be put off by the trimming thing. I am running Terragrapplers, and LOVE 'em. Got over 20,000 miles on them, and they still look brand new. So far, haven't failed me in snow, ice, sleet, rain, or mud. Don't have any experience with sand, but they should be fine there too, I would imagine.
The trimming took all of ten minutes, and you can't even see it from outside the wheel well. Even from inside the well, you wouldn't know it had been done without before-n-after pics. I have images in my gallery of the cuts and the piece I cut off if you want to see how easy/minor an operation it was:
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/sh...php?photo=3926
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/sh...php?photo=3927
If 'grapplers are appealing to you, don't let the trimming stop you. Good luck!
-Ron