Hi Ted, that's a really good idea. I run a 2WD, had various 2WD and 4WD trucks and SUVs, almost of my offroad adventuring since 2000 is done with 2WD vehicles (couple of them were FWD Dodge Caravans). As many have said before, 4WD just gets you stuck in worse places. With that aside, I like the idea, just I am out here on the east coast, so taking a 2 to 3 week trip to do that isn't possible right now. But I do know that from experience, as long as the surface I'm driving on isn't too broken up, like very loose rock or very loose gravel, or too slick with mud, I can make it through with no problem. Plus worse case I just get the come-along out from behind the seat with the tow strap and pull the truck right on through. (Thank you GM for having hooks on the front of the truck frame)
I did do some off road travelling in Oklahoma last year, with a 2WD pickup to find some cool fishing holes, and the grey dust and red mud was everywhere, but the truck handled it with no problem, even through the controlled burning areas (that's a sight to see, you see trees and fields blazing around you as your driving down the dirt cart paths separtating the different sections that they are burning off)
As for 2WD vehicles, I love them, better fuel economy, less maintenance and cost to front end parts. Other than that, there really isn't much difference, really all it ammounts to is the driver.