I'm not an ice-maker guy -- too much electricity usage for boondocking -- but for some reason, this thread really makes me appreciate the fact that we live in a wonderful time. The pioneers did without ice because they had to, but you can bet that they would have enjoyed a cold drink on a hot day if they could have done so.
But we don't have to drink lukewarm beverages if we don't want to! Every so often, I am reminded that our lives are very different from our ancestors' lives: vaccines, antibiotics, refrigeration, etc.