The Great Sin of knife buying is looking at price. Price means NOTHING. There are lot's of people who will come up with all sorts of economic reasoning why price is what it is. The one thing price does is to separate people will pay it from people who won't.
A $100 knife made in a industrialized nation of first world class can and often is of lesser quality and utility than one made in a third world county - which is what most knife buyers don't want you to know. Perpetuating the myth allows them to justify their purchase, and helps support their esteem because the brand they protect has a higher social standing. They are tools of marketers raking in their money.
FEATURES are the only justification for price. Materials, grinds, assembly techniques, packaging, and availability make up the bulk of it's value. An Opinel is just as good as a Sebenza for 85% of what we do, a Kabar will do most of what a Randall would do in the field. Better materials, useful blade shapes, and durable construction can cost more, and be more expensive in cost, plus cause more labor and require more expensive tools and supplies to finish - but the differences are often incremental.
The selling price, however, often rises geometrically. Like Mercedes Benz, the price could include 40% profit - which they use to prevent service provider employees buying their cars. Can't have the maid owning better than the lady of the house.
The real problem is that buying on PRICE is a social statement, and means nothing about the actual abilities of the owner other than they have disposable income. If anything, those who can and have done exploits looked up to by others often have a balanced view of life, and buy on utility, not price. They often get inexpensive, durable knives and use them for a lifetime.
It's the less experienced who buy on PRICE, and often, it's easily discovered.
