Are there any future plans to add the option of ice/snow not melting?
It fits with the theme of a never ending snowstorm so the blocks don't even have the time to melt.

There is the Permafrost mod but it has not seen any updates in 2 years.

No, there is no such plans.

@sanedsf Not to toot my own horn, but I have made a mod that can do what you want. https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/icecontrol

@codewolf219 that's nice! But I was looking a similar effect for fabric.