Well, I would rather have a combo. I love large blades just because they are so dange cool <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> That said, a large blade, as you noted doesn't do any job particularly well, but it CAN do all of the above. If I had to have just ONE tool, it would probably be my Chopweiler, my DSSF, my Rodent 9, or my Dogfather (probably in that order). Although that kind of gets to your "blades over 8 inches" point, seeing as how the first two blades are 8" or under <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I can routinely split wood faster with one of my larger knives than the scouts in my son's troop (or their fathers) can with a hatchet. I can generally out chop them too.