If I lived in Buffalo I would like to be the only guy in the neighborhood with a hydronically heated roof and sidewalks.
The problem with sidewalk heat in an area with that high a snow fall is that the deeper snow on the perimeter of your melted area keeps runoff water from getting away without internal drains.
But you would sure be the envy of your neighbors.
Got one of my kids a big toro snow blower when he moved to Michigan — he was very happy.
Wifey and I were watching some news coverage, and we both said we bet a new-construction trend is about to develop.