Dishwasher utensil baskets have compartments tall and narrow enough that the knife is not going to fall out. I haven't had that happen ever in my life. Even with heavy handles. (If it's as large as a chef's knife, however, that lies down flat in the upper rack.)

And yes, you do only knives down. If you did spoons and forks down it would be too crowded at the bottom. I don't know why only knives down seems like insanity to you?

I mean, I'm glad you've never sliced your hand on a thin paring knife sticking up at an angle that makes the blade virtually invisible. But hey, it's your hand you're risking, not mine...

It seems like the comment you're replying to is likely referring to butter knives. But if your paring knives match your other flatware it seems like a pretty reasonable confusion.