i would do the old "eenie-meenie-minie-moe" deal and just pick one,and then in the near future just get the other.you want them both!!!!

something to take into consideration is availability and price.you can get an rd-9 any time you want in any configuration.DF's can be tricky to find.so,if you see a good deal on a DF,or a rare opportunity arises then buy that one.you can always get the ranger later.

as far as value goes..........
your going to pay about an extra $70.00-$80.00 for a DF.theirs one for sale right now for $200.00.an RD-9 costs $120.00.

the question is if the DF is worth the extra money.i think it is worth the money it sells for but only you can decide if it is worth the extra money in comparison to the ranger.i own all three...DF,DFLE,RD-9 and i like'em all....you will too.

the good news is that you have good taste in knives,particularly choppers and that you cant loose either way.how often does a win-win happen

good luck,let us know how it works out