Despite this strange, growing thing called PC, I do think that there is to some extent a carry over from teh days when virtually every American male carried some form of pocketknife. I believe that in that era, pocketknives were perceived strictly as tools.
I think that the reason so many tactical folders offend the PC types, and the FBs do much more, is that in comparison with the size of the typical slip joint, or even many folding hunters, so many of the tactical folders are so big. That width of the blades looks excessive to people who's idea of a knife/pocketknife are based on 3.5" stockmen, with 3 blades crammed into that comparatively little space.
I, personally, lean towards the larger tactical folders. A knife with a 3" blade seems kind of small to me. But, I don't have too many illusions about why those who look askance at my primary self defense knives do so.