A lot of the price in the Vic multitools is in the fit and finish. I have several leathermans, a swisstool and a powerlock. On a sliding scale of finish, engineering, and beef, with the Vic being at the top of all of those, and earning the price, the leathermans seem to take a little more time in shaving little bits of weight here and there, are a little less costly in general and are at a bit lower fit and finish. The Powerlock has all the engineering in the plier head, really rough fit and finish (at least on mine) but was the cheapest when I bought it, and had the advantage of swappable (and therefore much more freely grind-able) tools. Each one has its own feel, and its own place in the grand scheme of things. Really it comes down to how the tool feels to you, and what you are looking to get out of it.
I'm sorta half looking at the smaller plier tools to compliment a larger folder, like a 111mm SAK. trying to get a good combo of useful tools, useable backups, and limiting the weight. For my use, I have to consider that anything I need a knife for, might involve the health and safety of someone else, so while I could get any task done with a nice little stockman or trapper, I need to really be looking at faster, meaner methods, all while still avoiding the Rambo/Bear grylls look.
