Cliff, nope. No problems with the edge whatsoever. Like I said, it's not even what I'd really term "hollow ground". It widens abruptly, but but more like a ramp. The skinny part is almost flat. Anyway, it's proven itself to be very tough. If you've been considering one, I can tell you with confidence to go ahead and buy one. They are great knives. I wouldn't mind if they were a bit cheaper, but I have never regretted the purchase.
As to mandatory military service for American men, I would have to say I agree in theory. In practice, America is all about freedom of choice, in theory. I couldn't in good concience say "you are x years old, it's time for you to enlist".
And I'm about as pro-military as you can get. I've been trying to get in for a number of years. Unfortunately, I've done some dumb things in my past that make this difficult. But my failure to be a soldier is not for lack of trying.
However, I wholeheartedly agree that experience in one thing doesn't neccesarily mean experience in another. Just because you're a good knife fighter doesn't neccesarily mean you know anything about military combatives. Just because you're a cop doesn't automaticaly mean that you know anything about streetfighting. I would go so far as to say just because you're a soldier doesn't mean you know all about war, in asmuch as many soldiers have never gone to war.
Knives still have their place in combat. At least they did in WWII. My Grandfather killed a number of Nazi's with a knife on his way out of Europe to America. A couple more as a Infantry Sgt. in the U.S. Army a few years later. It's a matter of context. In context, the knife is still a valid weapon, out of context, it's not.
