All the bad reasons you mention are why I haven't bought it. All the good reasons are why I still want it. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I would get the non-serrated version, but the edge not going back to the hilt has always seemed strange to me. Even so, I have more "utilitarian" knives. I'll keep this one in the back of my head for when I strike it rich.