I don't pass judgement on anyone, to each his/her own, but my own experiences were to break thru rather than walk around. By sticking with the swing I found more spots where winter fish hold, better flies to get them to grab on the move, and landed some of the most memorable k-romers of my steelheading days on light sinktips and the swung fly.
As early as November 6th while summer runs where still being caught I've landed fish so spankin' bright their scales were falling off and there were dark brown sea lice on them.
I've hooked fish just above tidewater that took me screaming down the frozen bank in December, and had 4 fish days in February when the water was hovering at freezing.
It can't compare to the hook rates of drifting but it can be done. It takes a heck of a lot of persistence and luck. What it lacks in numbers it makes up for in satisfaction, IMHO.