Basil,
I think you have chosen a difficult assignment. As you will have noted from the above comments how contentious this matter is.
I was only an occasional flyer (observer on trials) I consider myself quite disciplined. My knife was secured in its clip with a red tell tale thread. I was told never to get it out unless it was essential. I just trusted the briefing I received that it would cut harnesses and cord should the need arise.
When the small J knife was introduced there was great reluctance towards it. One specialist group of people at Lyenham at the time (Air Despatch) had dispensation to have both types (one on each leg) they claimed the need to routinely use the standard issue knife in pursuit of their duties. most of them used their own personal choice of "weapon" anyway but were aware of the "rules" on tool control. A far better tool for their job was what was known as the Air Sea Rescue knife. A very chunky J knife with a T handle. the blade was like a Stanley blade in the little cutter but much thicker (you will find one of these in each HUPRA pack - for cutting static lines - see the reluctant parachutist thread). Unfortunately it was not practical for these to be attached to your grow bag leg. They really would bruise you as reported above on Sentry.
I believe there is a proper Swiss army knife in each seat survival pack. You could probably but one for £25 from Millets. we paid £70 as they had the NATO code marked on them making them proprietary to one particular supplier who held the type record for the engraving of the NATO stock code (yes we went to such stupid lengths to maintain configuration control- I know you could not make it up and I never supported this). Of course these were P&L class stores and the number was engraved to stop folks nicking them. It would have been far cheaper to give every member of the Armed Services two each when they signed on.
I hear the Apache crews do not have a personal cutter but there may be a heavy duty one strategically placed on the door frame (not sure if this is true)
I did not know the Eurofighter escape parachute lines were that exotic. I know the brake chute is. We had some even tougher reefing cords to cut to sequence the deployment of some stores parachutes which needed a pyrotechnic (explosive charge) to cut through they really were that tough.
Best of luck with your studies. However I do think this issue would be more suited to someone studying psychology rather than aeronautics. How about a study on the effect on directional stability of all the sat com aerials on top of the new Rivet Joint.