Being obsessive compulsive, distracted, unorganized, and caring for the elderly (my father) as closely as a young severly handicapped child, I regularly carry combinations of slip joint and modern blades, so that I'm almost never caught without one. My work load spans maintenance/repair/small contracting/salvage/plumbing/elec/ hvac/landscaping on 3-6 properties; caregiving/medical/cooking/driving/hauling materials & equipment, enabling recreation, handling finances, personal & household shopping for 2 households, 4 people. . . apart from any aesthetic preferences, there are many, many times when a one handed draw-cut-holster action has made work faster, safer, & more efficient. Other than a one armed razor of some type, slipjoints don't 'usually' have that option. I *sometimes* carry a one arm trapper, cheap pakistan blades and cracked bone scales and all, just for that one arm ability.
Moderns also don't tear up people's fingernails nearly as often. My Razor-Trapper, Paki that it is, has a tapered fingernail groove on the clip blade, makes pull way less than practical, and it's not 'prettier' this way - it usually annoys me.
When moderns don't draw / engage a cut well, it may be user error or piss poor design. A quality modern, used well, will very likely perform better here, worse there, close enough about half the time. And it's probably not as attractive to feel and see. Like a firefighter in full gear, or a greasemonkey in a hurry.
My goto modern is a S&W SWAT magic, not the very first or the heavy, slow SWAT II, this is the blade lock via slide button on the handle, metal frame, lanyard hole, not over big or heavy or any bad thing. EXCEPT - It gets dull FAST. I don't know how much of this is the way I use it, and how much is the blade material, even how much is my imperfect honing & cutting technique. I don't pick it up unless I have time to hone.
Among other Moderns, it often depends on that SPECIFIC model. A one handed lockback can be slick but still safe. A pocket clip can be so nice, but not unless it matches exactly the clothing and pocket you're wearing now. Too loose, you lose it; too tight, you can't replace without stopping to give it more attention. Using, putting the wear & tear on it, will teach you so much more than just holding it. I have a couple ugly work/sport knives I'd never have picked for me.
Whew! Now that THAT'S off my chest; I LOVE slipjoints. Pocket my Little Bandit clasp, what I call my 'big easy', sheath my '85 XX scout as backup multitool, and I'm suddenly a little more relaxed and focused, more Ready. A nice jack/stockman/trapper/whittler/ insert-your-fave-here will sew up most ave. person's days. Hey, if you need more than cutting, there's probably a toolkit, or a maintenance person, or someone with a multitool /keychain tool within screaming distance.
Even when the work is most serious, a well designed, function before all, cost Efficient slipjoint will heave to, root hog, git'r'done, and make it look easy. Only the best designed, best steel modern will do as well, as many, as varied tasks day after day.
-1- My (newly acquired) Robeson Shuredge tl-29 civilian altered w/ custom bail, one bevel razor and one bevel axe, not afraid to pry, bolster lock tighter & smoother than any liner I've Ever Used. Me & Audie & Alvin, we've got this. I spent two months coaxing this trade from a young, autistic boy, after I showed his dad several equal or better quality/name/condition trade selections, and guaranteed the yungun would get a fair & happy trade of his choice or not at all. Worth the effort and the Case XX stainless it cost me. Snap so strong it's dangerous, wearing out my nails on the pull, but this mule is worth it, and walnut/brass/nickel too.
-2- An Aitor Electricista; razor spear, 'made exactly for this material' fine serrate cut, two cutouts for two types of cut. Lightweight, sturdy enough for the work, lighter than (or equal to) the S&W swat, but the handle is bigger so it gives better grasp. No fingernail pull, but the snap is gentler, doesn't slow down the draw. This knife does wiring and light to medium polymer cuts (rubber/plastic, styrofoam, etc.) almost any gum or petrol based substance, and harder material thinly sheeted or extruded. Takes on urban word the way a big swede handles farm and small game chores. Dollar for dollar, no sloppy work, workblade I've reccommended most frequently to others. Wonder if the Capitan and Skeletool models will satisfy as thoroughly.....
Oh, and as for looks, I love Case appaloosa bone, Taylor elk horn lockbacks, shiny mossberg brown on a trapper, a deeply jigged clasp or big 2bl hunter, worn stag on a Keen Kutter 1869-1969 Centennial Stockman, abalone on a doctor's knife, and old, very hard woods with patinaed silver and brass and carbon steel. Thanks for sticking with me; longest i've written in years