BOAC;
There are times when reverse is the ONLY retardation you may unfortunately find on a runway, and its use should always be thought about and encouraged where necessary - and to a standstill as per the drivers' handbook if required.
Slightly off-topic in one way, not in another, but in Canadian winters on contaminated runways one
never "relaxed" reverse & braking just because the airplane was down to 60kts and there was lots of runway left.
The biggest surprises are often at the end of the runway when, at below 60 kts we often consider the landing "over", overconfidence in stopping ability has been misled by runway contamination, rubber deposits in rain, etc.
In precip, the first third of the runway is often "dusted off" or perhaps less contaminated due to use, the middle part a bit cleaner due to high-reverse use and the "non-operational" end where the surface was relatively undisturbed by aircraft and engine heat, (such as it was at -28C), was often far more slippery - one never knew.
The lesson of course is, the nature of the runway surface in winter always changes longitudinally and you are absolutely correct; sometimes the only means of stopping was reverse, even in one case I am aware of, coming into the gate in the last 50 ft. Blocked visibility due to blowing snow kicked up by the reverse used then became an issue.
It's never over until there is no more movement, forward or backwards!, period. Back to the thread.