Front skid plates can prevent you from jamming snow and mud directly into the radiator and fan shroud. Plus protect the radiator from branches and trees (slash) when you run them over. Going 3 MPH into a snow field to break a trail that is up to your bumper, can push the snow into the shroud and push it into the fan. One time I went through water deeper then I should have and a wet leaf came up from the front, landed on my starter relay on my 1988 B2, shorted the vehicle out, and stuck me door deep in stinky water. Probably never would have happened with a front skid plate.
You think you are all smart, putting on a 3" body lift, and running dual 2" exhaust down the pass and driver side between the rear bumper and tailgate. So, you not jam your exhaust while backing up making trails or stall it in deep water. Then you get taken out by a wet maple/oak leaf.