So I am trying to get a good lay of the land and I see a lot of talk about razors that are 'good shaves' and 'great shaves.'

1st Question:

After a razor has been constructed with a certain degree of competence, isn't the degree of how 'good it is' mostly a degree of who last honed it?

And doesn't the hone have FAR more to do with how well it shaves than the razor itself?

So doesn't this make the selection of a razor really primarily a cosmetic and decorative question? (Again, after the razor passes a basic threshold of sound construction.)


2nd Question:

What is the range of expertise in honing? Is honing a simple skill like learning how to do laundry? Once you do it well it's clear what 'good' is - i.e. if your clothing is clean you did a good job. Your blade is really sharp so you hone well... No one really outshines someone else in doing the laundry.

Or is honing a real art like painting. One person paints well - but some rare genius elsewhere paints even better. Which would mean there are a few isolated honing experts whose blade work is always a couple of heads above everyone else's. And getting really good at honing is a long and tough road.

So, in short: Honing - a simple skill or a complicated art?

Thanks in advance for any wisdom you can throw my way...

Seth