One in Four seems way high to me. I can name two other people right now out of the dozens, if not hundreds I know who actaully carry a leatherman or knife (not including family members who had better be carrying the ones I bought for them, wife does and even wanted a new leatherman after all the paint wore off of her micra).
Did anyone in NY change after 9/11 or the balckout. I'm sure a few went out and bought flashlights but I bet they put them away and couldn't tell you where they were a week after.