While the definition I have/had is a bit restrictive, I think it's on the right path. With the sentence you gave, I read that as "While it'd be alright if it rains, snow would be better (I'd be more grateful for snow)." I don't think the 'would be better' piece necessarily is tied into this grammar as a requisite (just a possible usage).
そんな屈辱に甘んじるくらいなら, まだしも死んだ方がいい. I would rather [sooner] die than take such an insult lying down.
まだしもこの方がいい. This would be better.
なくした金が僕のだったからまだしもよかった. If it hadn't been my own money that I lost, it'd have been even worse.
Source: excite.co.jp
1人や2人ならまだしも，10人も事務所へ押し掛けて来て参った I could have handled [coped with] one or two of them, but I was flabbergasted when ten people pushed their way into my office.
寒いだけならまだしも，おなかがすいてきた I was not only cold but also hungry.／I would not have minded the cold so much, but I also began to feel hungry.
古いほうならまだしも，なくしたのは新しい帽子なんだ If I had lost my old hat, it would not have mattered so much, but it was the new one that I lost.
I think a good translation of まだしもis "In the case of A, it would have been fine, but..." or "a little bit of A is acceptable, but..." =) If that helps anyone.
1
15 years ago
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