and other blade "anomalies"

As much as I have learned this early in the experience, one thing keeps popping up that doesn't make a lot of sense. The way we do it, a blade might last 5 lifetimes (more for those "big rotations").

Or 10 even. Why then do we see a continuous stream of old blades (and some not-so-old) that have had their smiles erased and toes rubbed nearly off and just generally ground to be useless without attentive restoration.

Is it simple over-use of aggressive hones? Or lack of finishing stones for refreshing an edge? Or just general ignorance of how to managed that fine edge with a rock?

Answer "all of the above" of course, but what's your thoughts?

I saw a blade offered as '5/8 tapered to 4/8' recently...

And of course I left out "repairs" where someone takes out a nick or ding or pitting and grinds away the spine too.

But also I think there are more truly sharp shaving razors "happening" every day because we have been able to spread the word, and the pursuit isn't semi-shrouded in mystery and "I hear tale..." falsitudes and fictions.