Sorry to disagree, but, in the hands of a REAL woodsman, a well-cared-for double bit axe goes through a tree as sweetly as a machine. I knew a man in Ragland who was a REAL expert.
Me, though, I'm with you, Pete --- I always preferred a single bit axe. In my case, it was just a preference based on a feeling of "control."
A fellow that I worked with used to work cutting right of ways for surveyers, He said one morning he was sharpening a double bitted axe for the days cutting. He said he had it sharp as a razer and about that time, a 8 point deer ran across right in front of him, He threw the axe as hard as he could at the deer, said he didn't have the foggest notion that he would hit the deer, and he didn't. True, True, True story. MVB ES