Because.... more choice? Thats like saying why eat chicken when you have beef.
People are not ignoring beef when they happen to eat chicken.
Maybe you like beef because it has more passion... but some just like chicken.
Btw, those cheap chinese knives you speak of.. like Smith & Wesson and thise gas station knives are American brands, but produced in China. The original post talks about WE and Kizer and the likes... you know, the Chinese brands.
How many more choices do you want or need? Some people mentally shut down if they have too many choices. Just try to get a high school senior make a decision about a class ring if they have more than three rings to choose from. It is almost impossible.
If I am not mistaken there are some here that avoid Chinese knives because of all the confusion and selection. Post 85 is a good example. People will draw the line in the sand at some point and just avoid brands and products they don't know or trust. There is something to be said for brand recognition.
However, when I spot the same basic model/design of knife marketed with three or four different brand names and logos, I tend to shy away from all of them. No matter what company name is etched on the blade. Including Smith & Wesson. Why? Because I have found that when products are marketed like this, production standards are traditionally low and the end product is lacking. The most consistent example of this type of poor quality and marketing I have ever seen is with Chinese knives.
Yes, there are some excellent Chinese brands, WE, Kizer, etc, and if you want to own them, have at it. It's your wallet and your hobby. Enjoy. But, these quality Chinese brands are the exception. Not the rule.
With US made products, I normally am assured better customer service, better designs, and superior workmanship when compared to
most Chinese knives. Many times, this holds true even when compared to better Chinese manufacturers. Also, as the Chinese have gotten better, their prices have climbed to the point that there is little or no difference when compared to US brands. Under these conditions, I try to take care of those here at home first.
As for gas station knives, I don't remember ever seeing an S&W brand knife at any of my local stations. Plenty of cheap Chinese knives in a jar next to the cash register and green scaled knives with skulls on them behind the counter though. Maybe your gas stations are more upscale than those in my neighborhood.
As for the question, beef or chicken? Beef. My family's livelihood was cattle ranching for generations. Unfortunately, recent cardiac problems limit my diet to very little beef and I am getting bored with chicken. And I am learning to tolerate fish.
