[Conker]

Well I'm looking for a backpacking/hiking/camping knife, not a post-apocalyptic one... So maybe in my case "survival knife" may be pushing it a bit too far? Anyway...

I hadn't thought about it, but yes having the serrations on the top of the blade would be something I'd prefer for the exact same reasons you mentioned.
From your experience, do having serrations on a part of the blade significantly reduces chopping effectiveness?

Also, do you know what was the issue they've had with the ASEK ?

EDIT: Looking at the Ontario ASEK... the wideness of the serrations doesn't seems to be useful at all...