After putting an edge on the Gerber I took them for a walk at the farm yesterday. The Gerber is the hands down winner for light brush up to about a 3/4 sapling. The Ontario pulls ahead on the bigger stuff. I now can appreciate the hook in the blade, it won't skip off. As expected the serrations on the back of the Ontario are useless. If they'd of put real saw teeth on the back it could be a useful attribute.
I don't have a real method of testing blade hardness but will give my informal opinion. I took a new file to the edge of both blades and judging by the files ability to cut the metal I'd say the Ontario has a slight edge in hardness which should translate to better edge holding ability...FWIW...
Take a round file to the teeth on the back of the Ontario. A chain saw file of the right diameter to fit into the notch, and file it at about 45 degrees, alternating the side, to get cross-cut teeth. They'll work then.