Agreed -Phaedrus is not a wet blanket. It is really great to have a professional opinion - very insightful...

Now for an amateur viewpoint. My slicing is much less extensive, being confined to slicing the wrapper that encases the goody that will be popped into the microwave. Depending on how hungry I am, anything from bare teeth to a nice sharp knife will work.

Stainless vs. carbon steel?? Does it really make a difference? Is blade thickness really that important, compared to a sharp edge?

The viewpoint of a Neanderthal who hasn't quite given up on stone tools...