I have a BD Raven Pro as my standard mountaineering ax. I also have a pair of Nomics as my ice climbing tools.
So far, my glaciated mountaineering experience has been relatively easy routes on Rainier and Baker, nothing requiring technical tools. But as I transition to harder routes, I'm trying to decide whether it is worth purchasing some Quarks (or similar) for more technical alpine routes. Can I use the Nomics on technical routes? I figure they are pretty useless for self arrest. I have read of people taking a mixed pair w/ one mountaineering ax and one tool, but am not sure how common or advisable that approach is. Oh, and by "more technical routes", I mean AD or even D.