+1 ! I agree with Kees and Joed that the shave is where the rubber meets the road. When I first came around I was confused by the "remove scratches from the previous grit" school of thought. Until I bought some razors honed by sure enough honemiesters and looked at them under the 30X. Some of them were pretty smooth on the bevel and some were not but they all shaved great. TBH I don't look at the scratch pattern or worry about it. If the razor is at the point of easily popping hair I shave. Great thread though Olivia and thanks for the interesting photos and food for thought. :tu