An interesting thing to consider is that no commercial blade (Merkur, Feather, Derby - whatever) fails the hanging hair test, the modified armhair test, the "original" armhair test, or whatever. Some may consider these "too" sharp, but you have to agree that these blades are not overhoned - because if they were they'd go bad after the first stroke on a beard.

They last 5-10 shaves without even stropping, and you have to admit, that is pretty impressive performance for a blade that is only hardened to Rc56. I bet if one got their straight to that level of performance (10 shaves without stropping), they'd be singing the virtues of that blade in ballads.

What this most likely means is that those commercial 50 cent blades are optimally honed, and unfortunately that implies that straights that don't pass the HHT are not. That such straights give a good shave is true, but not necessarily indicative of optimal honing.

My personal theory is that most people get comfortable with a certain level of sharpness that is enough to cut their hair without pulling too much - after all the body rapidly adjusts to an applied pain threshold making the shave seem painless. Most people stop at this point thinking that their blades are properly honed (and they are, for their unique beard/skin/pain threshold combination) but are they optimally honed? Sorry to burst the bubble, they are not.

Once you get a straight truly sharp, it will pass the HHT, the OAT, the MAT or whatever, with ease. It will also shave differently; you will be using very little pressure, almost floating the blade off the skin - and it will last 8-10 shaves without stropping.

However this may not be how you like your blades - but that is your prerogative - your optimal point of sharpness is not the same as mine or someone elses, so it finally boils down to whatever pleases you.