| depends...
There are many arguments on each side of this debate. Many will say just to get it if you think you may ever need it, you will get back the investment when you sell. I tend to resist that thinking because I hate waste, and dragging around 400 extra lbs for the life of the vehicle if I'm never going to need it, plus the other drawbacks in ride, handling, mileage, etc is a waste, to me. A set of snow chains under the seat will get you out of anything that 4WD would, for those rare occasions, but it can be a hassle to use them. And of course no 2WD should ever come without posi in the back.
A lot also depends on the vehicle. I got 2WD on my F250 because they jack up the 4x4's so high and I hate the high-rider look, not to mention the ride of the solid front axle. I was also hoping to get a bit better mpg, and it has pretty good traction with the posi and camper shell/gear in the back. Note, with a diesel truck I would always get 4WD, as they tend to get stuck easy due to the heavy weight bias to the front end. Of course with 4WD they are even heavier in the front and light in the rear, so you end up using it quite a bit, even in light snow.
That said, on other vehicles it is almost transparent. I recently purchased a new Explorer with 4WD and it is so well integrated that it is almost unnoticeable - rides fine, sits low and gets great mileage. The GM pickup trucks also integrate it pretty well with independent front suspension and decent handling, for trucks.
Bottom line - assess your needs, finances and especially the vehicle you are getting, to determine the trade-offs.
-john
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