Good post: you’ve got it exactly right - it certainly does sound like MS but people shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions. I’ve had it for about 8 years (that I know of) and your statements are accurate with one caveat:
I believe the cold-climate link does not really apply to the individual but rather his lineage: i.e., the further your ancestors lived from the equator, the greater the odds that you might have it. The speculation is that MS may be triggered by lack of vitamin D exposure (cold climates, less sun.
Also, in addition to men tending to have a more difficult course, if you are older when the disease manifests itself it tends to take a more aggressive form (progressive rather than relapsing/remitting).
Good points-—yes, I was talking generalities about cold/warm, not as if an individual suddenly moved to MN he would have a greater risk of MS.