The knives aren't all lined up very well, but hopefully the picture illustrates my point about handle sizes and blade lengths. As an example, the ZT 0350 has a large blade for the handle. The problem is that the handle is too short to be comfortable. It's simply not comfortable the way it's designed, even though the handle is about the same size as the Domino's. I rarely carry mine because the handle is simply too short. It needs to be 1/2" longer to fit my hand comfortably. The Spyderco knives in the picture all fit my hand great. They're designed to be comfortable in hand.
To put things into perspective, I don't need a huge blade. I don't care if the blade is 2.5", 3", 3.5" or whatever. I EDC'd a Spyderco ladybug for a while so I really don't mind extra small knives either. If they're sharp they'll cut. I really don't see what an extra 1/4"-1/2" of blade is going to do or how it's going to make any real difference. I'm much more concerned with how comfortable a knife is to hold and use.
The Southard is praised as being a great knife. I don't own one as the design doesn't appeal to me. It's certainly one I would consider if I were looking for a knife like that. In the same vein I haven't held the ZT 801 so this isn't a dig against that knife either. My point is that having an extra 1/4" blade isn't going to make a meaningful difference in any normal real life task.
Lol, because I'm not interested in how comfortable a knife is to hold and use? Thanks, that's a nice backhanded shot.
Different strokes for different folks, but I own and have carried all the knives I compared earlier (Southard, 0801, Domino, Bionic). I'm not sure why you're so defensive of your purchase--I love Spyderco. I have a pile of them, including every Spyderco in your photo.
That said,
to me, the Domino is a terrible design. It's so wide that it feels big in the pocket, noticeably much larger than the Southard. Speaking of the Southard, have you tried using one? I've used mine quite a lot, for all sorts of cutting tasks, and it actually has a pretty comfortable handle. The fact that it gives you the better part of an inch more edge is just a bonus . . .
Feel free to draw your own conclusions, but I carry a Southard almost every day, I bought a Domino right when they came out, and I've tried to love it. Then I tried to like it. Now I just stare at it in confusion occasionally, like why is that basically brand new knife you're never actually going to carry still sitting in this drawer?
To me, the picture as usual tells a thousand words worth of story:
