>I know that this is a silly question, but...
> what, primarily is the purpose of the car cover?
> To protect from Snow?  Salt?  UV?  Dents?  All of these?

and, belief it or don't, leaves.

leaves and pine straw get into the little gutters and stay there,
soaking with rain and eventually, what with the water and leaching of
acid from the leaves/pine straw, cause rust. :(

and no, it doesn't automagically blow out when you drive ... if you
don't get up over about 40mph, it can still be there when you get back
home. :(

joel