My EJ used to shed one, or two bristles on each shave. I thought it was going to stop and indeed, there was a period when it stopped for a while,but then started again, 2, 3, 4 bristles every now again. It was my only badger for a long while... Then after about 1.5 years, I got a Simpson's Colonel. Literally on the next shave I used my EJ, it suddenly decided to lose 20-30 bristles....and obviously, if tried to use it again, it would keep shedding because the knot has now become too loose.

It all seems like too much of a coincidence to me, perhaps the EJ got heartbroken....

On a more serious note, pay close attention to shedding, because constant shedding will just produce more shedding and not less. Initially, for the first 2-3-4 shaves, it's fine. Anything longer than that, especially on a reputable product, would have me looking for warranty papers.