Well, I don't expect the Skeletool to "replace" a larger full featured MT for everything. It's just that I simply won't ever have the larger on one me for an EDC situation; just can't tolerate the bulk and weight. Realistically the Kick adds nothing of value (to me personally) and substitutes and inferior blade. Naturally that's JMOHO, no knock on the Kick.
Yea, IMO, the Kick and Freestyle fit two totally different roles.
The Kick is better at being a multitool, but it's terrible at being a knife. It doesn't have a pocket clip unless you purchase separately (which brings the weight up to 5.5 ounces and the price up another $5), the blade is near impossible to safely open one-handed, it's slow to open two handed, it doesn't really lock, and the steel they use (420hc) is a bottom end knife steel.
Since I feel it necessary to carry a good knife, I end up having to carry a second folder or fixed blade with it anyway. (Or, I'll just carry my Charge Ti instead, which is pretty good at being both a knife and a multitool.)
The Freestyle, on the other hand, looses some functionality as a multitool, but makes for a much better knife. It easily opens and closes one handed, it has a liner-lock, it has bronze bushings, it's offered with 154cm blade steel, etc. I'll often carry that one by itself, instead of my EDC Benchmade folder.
The Skeletool is kinda the next step up from the Freestyle, as far as being a pretty good knife, but with some additional multitool capability. I have one of them too, but like I said, I didn't find it to be comfortable to use. Nor did I think it really added much over the Freestyle for me personally. I mean, I don't need the carabiner since I carry it clipped to my pocket, I don't really need the bit driver since I've got a little screwdriver in the Swisscard in my wallet, and I don't need a bottle opener since I can open bottles with the Freestyle just fine (also know how to open them with a normal ring, or a lighter, or my watch, or pretty much anything else we could find within arms reach in our college apartments).
