Maybe it is because I have used 6 and 7 inch blades for so long, but I like them. The first time I ever saw a knife chop down a tree it was a US Navy Ka-Bar in the hands of 12 year old kid. It was a fairly large pine tree, too. A 7" blade can chop, and it is more compact and easier to handle than a 9" or 10" knife.
Hmmm... I guess I'm saying that it isn't ideal for either chopping or small tasks, but if I just had one knife for field use, it would be a 7" blade. On the civilian side, I'd just bring a big ol' chopper and a 5" fixed blade.
