Personally?
Well, my experience isn't as broad as some of the guys, but within the scope of what I've actually used . . .
I have developed a preference for the Sandvik steels. They are pretty much trouble free, take a good edge, hold it well, and don't require mothering.
However, for actual steel performance -- like how sharp it gets, how long it holds the edge, how long it takes to put an edge back on the knife -- I'm kinda partial to the Case "CV" steel. Chrome vanadium steel has been a reliable tool steel for ages, and theirs will "gray" up rather than rust in regular use. Of course, if you let one sit wet or forget to wipe your prints off it and let it go for a while, you may find yourself having to polish off some red rust.
I own a number of knives in high-end steels (S30V, 154CM, stuff like that) and a number in "regular" stainless (440C, 420HC, "Tru Sharp," Sandvik 13c26 & 12c27, things like that), and then some others in random grades of stainless (SAK, assorted "surgical" steels, no-name steels).
I use a fine diamond steel to maintain most of them.
The lower end stainless can be frustrating to sharpen, as it "cuts" easily with stone or diamond and rolls over, or cuts poorly and acts "slippery" against stone/diamond. Bleh. The good 440/420 steels, depending on temper, can be easy to sharpen or a pain in the butt. Most of my "Tru Sharp" (Case) stuff behaves well and takes a decent edge without too much work. The Sandvik steels, though, are very well behaved. Consistently good.
My carbon steel blades, including the Case CV stuff, are satisfying to work with, as they "cut" uniformly with stone & diamond, and dress without fuss, and then hold the edge well. I've only ever had a problem with one carbon steel blade, and it was a cheaply made kitchen knife. Don't have it any more.
So, on balance, I prefer Sandvik for stainless and Case CV for carbon.
This is not an exhaustive treatment nor particularly objective, rather it's just a summary of my personal experience with the stuff I've used.