The situation demanding immediate action putting the knife at risk is one in a million for some but for others at least the risk of it is a daily event. Loss, theft and being continuously wet in salt water or even overboard are the big killers for me.
Right on the money about the aural and tactile pleasures of a good knife ... and all the other of your examples. I sometimes jack the model 12 just to hear it. Those aural, tactile and visual pleasures you so well describe, however, are quite similar to the usefulness of a knife in that the last increment of improvement is extremely small or even non existent per unit price. The $100 knife will be darn close and even if you loose it, it's 3 replacements to get to $400 will also be close. So again I must contend ... if I am honest with myself ... man jewelery.
