It all depends very much on who is involved, and where they are.
For myself, in eastern hardwoods forest, and me and the better half being "older"folks, we've gone to saws for whatever the pocket knife or small sheath knife won't handle. Age and arthritis will take it's toll on you, no matter who you are. When I was a young stud full of viniger, I swore by my old Plumb hatchet anbd Randall 14. Now I'm an old fart with some problems, same as the better half, so we each carry a Fiskars sliding blade saw on our woods outings. Things change, like it or not. Some of you young guys will not be doing things the same way 20 or 30 years from now. If we have to do some cutting in an emergency, a saw is way safer and easier for us to use. With my problems and the ol ladys runitoid arthritis, we don't chop anymore. Fiskars, Bahco, Silky, Opinel, all make very reliable saws that are not likely to break on you. As far as it going dull, I've been using the same Fiskars saw for several years now for harvesting sapplings for my hiking stick sales. ( Carl's third leg hiking sticks, sold at local craft fairs.) It's still going strong. If I had to, it can be touched up with the little Eze-lap model L I carry in my wallet. The one in Karen's day pack is unused, as is the one in my truck kit. When dick's had a sale on them, I stashed one here and there.
For longer canoe trips, I carry a Sven saw and a spare blade in the pack. The Sven is a wood mover of first class. Goes through wood like a crack crazed beaver. With the blade supported at both ends, breakage is not likely. Is easy enough that I don't sweat my grandchildren using it.
I don't think I've touched my Plumb hatchet in 20 years, but I use the heck out of our saws. Works for us. Cuts, and lets us split wood just fine. Getting old, you have to change the way you do things or you don't get to do those things. For a senior citizen, a saw is a wonderful thing.
Carl.
My other go to chopper.