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A machete is probably the most useful woodsman's tool there is. I like axes, hatchets, and saws but a machete cuts better than any of them until you get up to branches over maybe three inches in diameter.

that's where a good kukri comes in. the forward design of the blade, and the much thicker blade will go thru a lot that a machete won't. i've used machetes, and prefer the kukri because it'll go thru so much more. i've gone thru a 6inch log of maple just as fast with my kukri as i can with an axe. machetes are good to go thru really thin stuff, but where i'm at, the heavier kukri is more suitable.
they also make excellent weapons. as far as the ability tests, check out cold steels proof test for their kukris. it goes thru a bunch of rope, they break a cinder block with the back of the blade, and cut thru 7 inches of bamboo- same test that's used for katanas.
but the most use i get out of mine is as a bat bat. i have an old farm house that attracts bats, and once in a while they get in the house. the wide blade is good for swatting them out of the air :)

As I said, I have a Cold Steel Kukri so I don't need to check them out. My experience is different from yours. I think the Kukri is too thick to cut well. That might help it to chop but not to slice through branches.

My "Cold Steel" Kukri came with an interesting history of that blade. It basically said the design was used by Greek Soldiers in Alexander the Great's army. When they invaded India, the locals saw it and liked the shape. Now it is common in India and of course Nepal.

It is probably a good fighting weapon but the ones I see are too short for combat imo. I think they make a fairly decent all around fighting knife and chopping tool but generally are far inferior to the common machete for most purposes.