I feel like joking and telling you that the problem is obviously your Y/G Escher .... so send it to me and your problems will be over .... but I'm going to be serious. I too am sort of addicted to the HHT. I know it doesn't necessarily matter when it comes to the shave but I can't help myself. Kees if you have DE blades keep one on your countertop for times when your razor won't pass HHT. I've found some hairs that come out of my hair brush that won't pass HHT with a new Feather blade. When I run into one of those I know it is time to grab a different hair. Sometimes that is all it takes.

Interesting about going down in grit to the Tam. I wonder if the coarser Tam, not coarse but coarser than the Escher, is not removing a bit of a wire edge ? I notice that some razors that I've shaved with that don't pass HHT are fine shavers. Close and comfortable. Some that do pass may be harsher but I've pretty much eliminated that. I also agree with Sham's point (hi_bud_gl) that it is hard to really know when to stop. Because of that I too am a stroke counter. Maybe because I learned doing the pyramids. Anyway, it is an interesting and fun pursuit, honing razors.