kbog,
yeh, appearance is certainly a selling point, and I have my own personal bias & prejudice: I like the "bowie-style" look.
So if it doesn't look like a bowie-style, it doesn't catch my eye. Those others may be/are great knives, but..... I don't care for the looks. Pretty lousy reason not to buy (possibly) the better knife/tool, but.....
Anyway, the Tigershark is a big knife, no doubt about it. Being a SOG kinda guy, I also have a SEAL 2000. And when it comes to chopping through 4" diameter tree limbs the Tigershark does the job oh-so-easy. Piece o' the proverbial cake.
Several of us over at SOG Forum have taken to calling our SOG's "Tactical Tableware," and for good reason. Ours do kitchen duty also, I've carved many a roast and prime rib and ham and turkey with my SOG's, and then used 'em as my steak knife. And yeh, the females at the table do roll their eyes.... but you'll find them using a (comparatively) more dainty SOG Field Knife as their steak knife, or perhaps a WWII Robeson Shuredge.
So a good camp knife should be much more than just a "camp" knife. I have an older Tigershark with the SK-5 (carbon steel) blade. It easily takes a razor edge, holds it quite well, and goes through whatever I ask it to. When I'm out pig hunting it's on my belt, I wouldn't be without it. I definitely like it.
Cheers,
Carl