The angle of the blade and handle design on the ka-bar allows your hand to stay in a more natural position of function. This means more power, leverage, and generally control which are all pretty key if using it in a stressful situation where fine motor skills tend to fail. Again this is a self defense type knife and is not designed to be an every day utility kinda knife.

Cold Steel makes another defense knife called the Safemaker (and Safemaker 2) and though they are popular, the design is pretty weak from a functional standpoint.