I'll try not be beat a dead horse potentially (and probably unsuccessfully) with this thread.

I guess what I'm looking for is an unbiased response from a biased experienced honer.

It is my impression that once you get "decent" at honing (I'd consider myself there) that you can get a pleasantly sharp and smooth edge and therefore shave with most any hones.

Most everyone gets to that stage. This is the stage that is necessary to get to if you want to hone your own razors and if you want good shaves from those blades.

There is a honing level beyond this stage however and that would probably apply to most people reading this particular sub-forum.

Would you say that, realistically speaking, the motivation to go beyond this stage is more for the challenge, enjoyment and experimentation than for actual improvements in the edge.

Regardless of whether you can tell the difference between the various edges is that secondary and enjoyment in honing the primary motivation?

Jnats are more fun and challenging as well as coticules and it's satisfying to own 20k and 30k synthetics but it's my impression that the cost/benefit ratio isn't necessarily there if edge improvement was all that was involved.

The same might apply to the benefit vs time required to learn.

Is it fair to say that once you go beyond the basics of honing that the primary motivation is generally something other than any improvement that you might get in the edge?