Well, 15.5 ounces is pretty darn close to a pound. (And, did you include the sheath in that?)

A pound of weight is a pound of weight. Not a "massive" drain on your calories, but a drain, none the less. My concern if I carry that big knife, what else I have to leave behind, to maintain a reasonable carry weight. "Reasonable carry weight" is a debatable term, just as is "Big Knives". What is reasonable depends on ones activity, environment, lenght of trip, and personal needs. Pounds add up, and the less I carry the further, faster, and more comfortably I can go.

I wasn't suggesting that a big knife is not appropriate for some people in some situations. My point is that each peice of gear needs to be evaluated for how likely it is that one needs it, how critical that need might be, and how much it weighs (or how much space it occupies). What to carry and what to leave out is always a question.

In my case, I don't feel that carrying a "big" knife is worth the extra weight, considering how seldom I really need a big blade. Your situation may differ.

Just my opinion.