Harold...I think you need to settle down. You are referring to "INVADERS".....oh, you mean tourists like the OP is about to become???
The tourists certainly do not block or blur the beautiful red rock views. And not ALL shops are new-agey. There are some beautiful art galleries, t-shirt shops, hike shops, bike shops, etc....as well as supermarkets, banks, restaurants, etc.
OP...I-10 is quite a bit out of the way for you. I would just hope that the weather cooperates for your time table, but certainly make a plan B. If there is an active snowstorm, I would not drive through...maybe lay back in Kingman for a night. If I-40 or I-17 gets so bad as to require chains, the bad sections are usually closed down for a few hours. If you do take I-10 and do not want to drive through central Phoenix, you can take Loop 303 west of Phx to I-17 north of Phx.