david weaver
...is the various knife contraptions and rods.

I have a smooth steel (fairly inexpensive one) and that's about it. I believe you're right that they'd do decent with serrations, and agree on their ability to continue to cut when they're a little dull and the points rounded (and who knows what % of the population doesn't sharpen knives. My parents had a mechanical sharpener, and I still don't remember them ever using it. I remember when there was a wheel in the back of electric can openers, too).