I'm not convinced that going down in a corner on the pavement is something knobs or even cuts are going to stop. You don't get the chance to run it both ways. Basically they would be worse unless your tire cut through whatever was there and got a bite on pavement. If it was ice or oil that isn't going to happen, nor can you get a grip on fine sands and silts that accumulate at corners by running knobs. Anyway, most cyclist in the road, or on tour are not laying her over on the edge of the tire, and there are not many situations where doing that in circumstances were deep treads were the answer would see you sticking on the road. You would either need serious camber, or a material just soft enough for the tread to grip, but not so soft it tears out.