I remember discussing this with Tony Marfione.He was asked by Dick Barber to provide feedback when he was developing his new S30V steel.
Most knife makers use the steel that is popular during the time of manufacture.I can remember when ATS-34 was the darling steel.Them came 154CM then 20C-V and then the newer powder steels.
Even given all of this advancement with newer steels,I still prefer to buy knives such as produced by Randall Made for some of the reasons you mentioned.There is one more reason though,resale.
