You are not alone, but newer, "powdered metal" and other exotic stainless steels like 154CM, ATS34, CMP440V, VG10 and CPMS30V are overwhelming favorites for high end folding knives today.
These steels are much tougher, and hold an edge better, than older stainless like AUS6 or 440A.
Chris Reeve uses A2(tool steel), BG42 and S30V for most of his knives; Strider uses ATS34 and S30V; Busse uses a proprietary "super steel" called INFI; Spyderco uses VG10 and S30V for most of their upscale folders. Randall used to use 440B for their stainless knives, I *think* they use ATS34 now? Their tool steel blades have always been Swedish 01.
"Stainless Steel" has come a long, long way in the past 10 years.
Try a VG10 or S30V folder and you'll be impressed with the sharpness and edge retention.
My brother who was chief engineer at a chemical plant once showed me some metal they used in the plant which was one of those ultra strong extremely expensive materials. He said it was difficult to machine but he had made a knife of it and said it was well suited for that purpose.
I was visiting the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola and they have some jet engine cutaways on display. Those tines on the inside of the engines look like they would make great knives. I bet they are really strong and they just look right.