After having a pocket knife close on my finger as a kid (when I did something stupid;)), I will never again use a pocketknife without a locking mechanism.

A knife is a personal tool; Often what you're paying for is not just the blade quality, but also the ergonomics. For example, my dad has one that he really likes, but I dislike the blade shape, and there's another one I have that is just horribly shaped and feels terrible in the hand.