It is as much a matter of opinion as fact really. Some people like tantos, others don't, just as simple as that really. It also really depends on what the knife is used for. A tanto on an EDC for me has no real point, and doesn't work out as well as other blade shapes. I found that out by carrying a tanto and other types of blades and seeing which was more handy for me. Tantos tend to have a very thick strong tip to help prevent breakage if the tip hits something hard. A drop point for example will have a thinner tip that is good for fine detail cutting. Other blade shapes with more of a true belly are also more handy when trying to slice things.
Serrations are something of an opinion too, but also based on what you need then knife for. I think that probably the biggest problem most people have with serrations is that they rip through material as you said, not really cut it. If you like the serrations and they worok well for you then by all means get them. One advantage they have over a plain edge is that they will cut through stuff even if they are not very sharp.
