Bart,

My issues with the Verhoeven papers is that he reports what can be seen. I can't smell, taste, or hear sharpness, but I can definitely feel it. If I hone a razor and shave with it... well, okay, yeah it can shave. But it shaves SOOOOO much better when I strop it first! With plain leather even. Verhoeven doesn't attempt to explain this.

If stropping with plain leather has no effect on the geometry of the edges, it does have a result on the edges. If I hone a razor on an 8000 grit hone and peform the HHT, it's decent. But that very same razor after a typical run of stropping does much better on the HHT. (spare me the parlor trick conversation please, everyone. That horse is dead enough.)

That said, I agree with you. If I'm to the point that I have so little time that I can't take 30 seconds or so to strop a razor, then either get me a mach 3 and canned goo or I'm going to break out the electric in the car while I drive wherever I need to go.