Exactly.

Norwegian climate is not so harsh that it makes life an perpetual fight for survival. But it's nasty enough to slap one's lazy nose every once in a while.

It's not so harsh in Norwegian West, East and South as to be remarkable in any respect. Poland has rougher climate. Northern parts and central-inland in the peninsula are cold, but relatively sparsely populated.

Norway has its natural limitations though which made for a tougher life. Like insufficient options for agriculture, one thing that made feudal system here impossible and diets fairly lean.

Snow and ice 5-7 months of the year in Oslo...

If by 5-7 you mean 3-4 in a good year, sure.

No I mean 5-7. The skiing is rubbish until January but the ground is frozen by the end of October and defrosts in late March/early April. Lots of places have colder winters than here but they do drag on.

I can't really recall when there was snow in Oslo for half a year. Some years were nearly snowless. Officially, the winter period in Oslo is 119 days.

And well north of the city/further from the sea you can feel proper winter better, sure. Even so close as Lillestrøm it's crisper. But again, nothing unusual by North/central European standards.

2 winters ago... Last winter was very mild though.