As far as pure chopping goes CDOGS, The biggest problem I ever encountered beside the considerable effort vs gain game was my blades chipping out. Partly due to hitting knots in the wood, and partly due to living in northern Canada where a good winter day drops to -50 deg. The one blade I never had problems with was a 25 dollar cold steel kukri machete of all things.

Nothing convinces you not to chop a knife blade into wood faster than having to spend 2 hours grinding out chips.