I would think that if not cleaning a chain at all, the general greasy mucky build up should offer some protection against water in the winter..Never yet cleaned a chain, wet lube for winter riding and dry lube for summer. KMX9 when on offer I buy 2 or 3 haven't replaced a chain for a couple of years now. Though swap chains winter to summer.
So you won't get black toothmarks on your jeans that won't wash off! I only have to look at mine and I have black marks on my clothes.Your roads must be filthy! Punctures, dirty chains, things unheard of... My Wippermann isn't as shiny as it was 2000 km ago but it isn't dirty. It has been lubed with dry lube once because it bounced off the big chainwheel onto the little one during a gear change on a rough bit of cycle path. The jockey wheels are OK I clean them out with a wooden toothpick if I notice any build up once every blue moon.
On the trike a whole different story, lots of chain (2.6 X longer) and as the trike is folded after each ride = stress on chain which is sort of folded too... It is very clean because of the tubes it runs through but it has to put up with more stress than the chain on Number Two. It will be replaced with a low end 8 speed Wippermanns soon (I hope) when I motorise, 30€ for 3 chains which I will split to fit.
I didn't mean when riding. I often move things around in the garage and do small jobs on the bike without getting changed first.. often these small jobs escalate into bigger jobs then I "spoil " even more clothes ....I wear trouser clips or really skinny jeans
My CX drive eMTB came withe more expensive KMC e11 chain, have thought about trying cheaper Shimano chains. The big plus KMC is I've yet to break a chain, non directional and come with quick link.I would add to that with ..
In my experience expensive chains dont seem to last any longer than cheaper ones so I generally buy one thats on offer, with a bag of single use power links and the tool to remove them (really good buy)..