DJ,
I'm pretty burnt out on "steel wars", all the continuing arguments on the internet about what steel is best or what sucks written by many people whose knowledge comes from reading it on the internet and then sticking a finger up to see which way the wind is blowing then jumping on that bandwagon so they can be cool too.
There are many steels that will make good knives. Some of the most valued blades on this planet are of an un-named alloy. Think antique swords from Japan.
Good news you found this steel by using it.
CPM S35VN is barely stainless by chromium content but holds up against corrosion well.
The term "Stainless Steel" is like saying "cartridge", there are many types of both.
"Stainless Tool Steel" is a category of hardenable steels while many stainless alloys are not.
Some hardenable stainless steels are not "tool steels" like 416 stainless used for some stainless steel firearms barrels,
" Particle Metal Stainless Tool Steel" is another category while
"Particle Metal" tool steels are an entire other group in that some of these do not contain enough chromium to be called stainless.
CPM S35VN is a true tool steel made by the particle metal process with good stainless properties.
It has the unusual alloy of Niobium which also forms a carbide and increases the toughness by a nice measurable amount.