No experience with expensive knives, but I always recommend Victorinox. Been using them for years, and put them through a lot of work everyday (I'm not a high end, trained chef, but I'd put my fine onion dicing skills up against anyones, though my tennis elbow, mostly from onion dicing, has slown me down a tad).
Anyway, Victorinox is awesome. I'm sure expensive fancy knives are great too, but I've never seen a reason to explore anything else as a true workhorse.
For sharpening and maintenance, I use a steel regularly (Victorinox makes a great one), and a 1000 grit whetstone for a real sharpening when the knife needs it (typically, about every 3-6 months). I've always used King stones. They work well, and are pretty cheap.
Another reason for Victorinox is sharpening. Sharpening is a skill that takes some practice. Even a novice is unlikely to do major damage to a knife while sharpening, but knowing the knife an be replaced for $40 eases one's mind as you as you go down that road. And dropping big money on a knife is pointless if you aren't going to sharpen it (though you can always have others do it).
Speaking of sharp knives, my niece lived with me for a few months. Working at the restaurant and cooking together. I did the best I could teaching her proper techniques, and she's solid. Needs more practice and to trust her guide knuckle, but pretty solid.
Anyway, she moved down to Florida back to live with my brother. She had gotten spoiled using good knives at my house, and I couldn't stand the thought of her now having to use crappy knives (they've got what most households have before they care about using/maintaining good knives). So, I sent her an 8" Victorinox, a good steel, and a good cutting board. She was so excited.
The very first night use it, she calls crying. She was in the middle of dazzling my brother and his wife with her knife skills (doing nice work on those green peppers, from what I saw in the pic). And she sliced right through her fingertip. Blood everywhere.
I had a hard time not laughing. She knows the right technique (I wouldn't have sent it if I didn't know that), but it happens. Now, slicing through your hand is never encouraged, but they serve as a great reminder as to why proper technique is important.
From the pic, I could see the mistake she made (she let that ring finger get loose). In fact, it occurred to me that I'd made nearly the exact same cut/mistake (along with many others). And like her, I like to document my screw-ups.
Here is her cut
Here is my cut
She's already my favorite young person on the planet, and I'm not gonna lie, the same finger cut is another cool bonding experience.