I was out of the Army before 9/11, but as an ex-infantryman I never saw much point in worrying about the shine off a Randall blade. I understand light discipline, but soldiers don't routinely go traipsing through the nighttime woods with their knives in their hands. Sheaths do a good job at subduing finishes.

And on the .0001% chance most soldiers ever need to use a knife against another guy, a shiny blade would be the last thing they'd worry about. Lack of knife-fight training would be first.