To the original question, I think that a 300 Win Mag or possibly a 338 Win Mag are actually better "all-around" in North America.
Both have more recoil than I want, so I do use a 30-06, but both can reach farther while keeping the velocity up on heavier bullets. If I were shooting across canyon on a big bull elk at 500 yards, for instance, and wanted to whack him before he got in the timber, I'd say that I would prefer a 300WM with a sleek 180/200 grain bullet over the -06. If I was shooting a giant mule deer in Sonora, in the brush country at 400 yards, I would prefer the 300WM also. Lots of scenarios that I could imagine around the world where the -06 wouldn't be the best gun to have in hand.
If I was running around Alaska regularly, I would choose the 338 because I think it puts more "smack 'em" on any animal than an -06.
I cannot really handle that level of recoil well, however, so I use a 30-06 instead.
