Considering the basic knife needs of anyone currently serving in the sandbox, 1S1K folks included, the new design is just about ideal. It seems that most of the negativity has come from everyone's assumption that this knife was designed for the backwoodsman and hiker / camper when it is clearly meant to reach its full potential as a combat / field blade. Beating it lengthwise into a log should be at the absolute bottom of the Regulator's to-do list. This is going to be a great all around knife and IMHO Dan has just about nailed it.