I asked sort of the same question a while back. Here's what I think I learned:

• Any knife is better than no knife.
• The one you'll actually carry is better than the one you would like to carry.
• No knife will do everything, most knives will, however, work for most of the tasks you'll need a knife for.
• There are several very good, entirely satisfactory knives which do _not_ cost $$$.
• Our ancestors managed with the sharp edge of a chipped rock or bone. Debating 154cm vs. S30V feels kinda silly knowing that. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Find something you like, make sure it's of "good quality" (not going to break on you first day out), then
stop worrying about it.

OTOH, the quest for the Perfect Knife is endless, limited only by time and money. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />