To me a knife is either a tool or a work of art. That beautiful Damascus (above) can be stuffed in a safe and 200 years from now it will still be worthy of appearing in a magazine. When I was a teenager, my mother used to buy me glossy paged books with color photos of armor. Later, I traveled to the U.K. and visited castles that displayed armor. Not unusually, those who could afford it bought armor that not only was efficient, but beautiful. Some had intricate designs; others were silvery and polished, but they were astounding.
Some people like quality, and they spend extra money for Sebenzas and other fine knives that, to me, are well made but lack beauty. Others buy knives they'll never actually use, but will keep in a safe. And still others, like me, will just buy production knives because they represent utility. (Okay, I have a few Damascus knives, but they're surprisingly inexpensive. I got them on eBay and have no intention of using them for anything other than looking at them. But the cost was like fifty bucks, shipped.)
These are all heavy knives and are frankly breathtaking, plus they were inexpensive. The production knives I use sharpen quickly, are tough and will last for decades. Each person has their individual likes and dislikes. Last night, I spend almost twenty minutes putting a decent edge on a premium knife blade. To me, that's too long to spend, so I gravitate to knives that are easy to sharpen, even in the field (though I don't usually have to do that).
I don't need custom knives, though if I had the money, I'd buy them. But I think I do well with the money I am allotted. Alas, I live in a world of Zytel and AUS8, and I survive just fine. I checked the recent stimulus package and there were no earmarks for me to buy anything better. So until there are, it's just me and my Cold Steel Gunsite.
As production knives go, it's hard to beat knives like this
Buck Alaskan Vanguard. 
