I've always had a problem with the "what ever works for you" answers, but having played with more knives of different lengths and heights I can understand it a lot more. Still I keep looking for that all rounder that never disappoints in any role I put a knife to (good luck right) I also think choosing the best all around stats can leave you feel underwhelmed all the time. What I'm saying ts you have to find some dimension shape, color thats always worth it even though they all have cones, for me thats a knife thats not so long, (I max out around 8.5 and usually carry under 7"ers) In the end I have come to realize the wisdom in the "whatever works for you" answer, frankly even the best designed, most beautiful knife over 8.5 is always going to left at home when I need it.(sorry I've been thinking about this stuff a lot this last week,
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To actually answer your question from my experience, which is dwafed quickly by others, I know, what I have found is the following:
-John is right in my opinion. To get the strength in a shorter blade at a bigger length you'd have to increase the blade thickness a lot just because of leverage and "return force(?)" from the thing you are cutting. It's the same reason you hook two wrenches together to overcome a difficult nut or use a long plank of wood to pry up a floor board rather then a short thicker one.
-A longer blade is able to cut things that are thicker and longer (wood, game, big chickens) a lot more easily.
-The thicker your blade the stronger it is, but heavier ad more cumbersome to carry (of course I'm sure what you find cumbersome is also a personal thing).
-Thinner, shorter blades slice more easily (then again a knife sharpened by a lot of the guys and gals here at 1/4 ich thick probably still slices better then a knife sharpened by me at 1/16, but all things being equal...) But they chop, ct through with more difficulty.
-I think a shorter blade is easier to carry (also depending on your hand - mine are fairly large but thin) it might be more comfortable to handle and therefore effect how much you can do - if it's the "wrong" height for your hand a lot of battening is going to start to hurt for example.) I also find thiner blades more utilitarian, you can cut things more precisely and have more control over the cut.
-On the other hand a thin blade, a short blade and/or a narrow blade generally gets scuppered when it comes across a task that needs a thick, long and/or fat blade but a thick, fat and/or long blade generally can do, or at least manage, the tasks of a thin blade unless you need exacting precision.
Take care,
