Well my fussy old friend, a few years ago I'd have voted on 'the shave' but after a 'few more' razors I do believe that how hard they are to hone does make a difference in how they shave.

With that said, it could be that there is a sub conscious effect that since the razor (example #1)was a B***h to hone, it must be not giving the best shave/and then when a razor (example #2) just works so well, no warps no micro chips appearing etc that sub consciously we 'think' that it's a better shaver than example #1.

All I know is that my final test is the shave test (I do a full shave as the test) and sub conscious or not, if it shaves well and I'm happy with it. I'm good to go! I've yet to send a razor home that they didn't like the shave.

Knock on Wood!