There may be limited number of handle designs and blade designs (although some companies are better at finding new ones than others), that does not mean that companies need to pair the same handle with the same blade design as another manufacturer who is still making and selling the model. Maybe after 20 years if the other manufacturer is no longer selling it and they can offer real evolution.
When they comment on the hole in the blade being from the 30s, i belive they were refering to the slit, not the recent hole positioned for one-handed opening. I don't have much of a problem with other companies using a hole for one handed opening, but you don't copy the entire knife.