I bought my first Puma in about 1966, had several as for many years, they were the "best" knives one could buy in BC. I never thought much of their real quality and tried Bucks and Cold Steels as well as the old Gerbers with the cast metal handles....which, until I got into custom blades actually WERE "the best" for cutting game meat.
People, often make "cult" status out of all kinds of mediocre items and then are willing to pay ludicrous prices for them.....who knows, we humans are a funny bunch!
Now, with really GOOD knives, Fjallkniven, Busse, H.E.S.T., Chris Reeves, many others available everywhere, I would not take a Puma as a gift, but, if someone likes them, hey, why not, we only pass this way once.
