great thread!
I too am needing a new knife and have been completing a lot of research lately.
Vitronox -- recommended highly by my high quality / monied aunt, and I tried out their 25 yr old knives. Very good, but lightweight (which is good for lots of extended chopping, btw). holds sharp.
Mac - the knife I want to try out, based on all the reviews.
Henckels -- the TWO knives, that after 20 years (i was given them as a wedding gift from a group), I broke BOTH tips off, in less than 4 weeks. How? Cutting frozen brownies and then cutting frozen butter. I have since found out that they are fragile, tend to shatter when dropped or misused this way. (but cutting frozen brownies should not be mis use in my mind...)
What I don't like are the prices of the "good" knives, so I bought a $5 "looked good" knife from second hand store, and it seems to be doing very well! My kids love it, anyway.
Now I am seeing if I will still want a fancy knife in a few months, especially as I am saving money for it.
That's how I decide -- put it off for a long time, and if the cheap substitute doesn't cut it (Pun! i made a pun!) then buy with cash.