Hammett it seems to me that you are on the right path here. The smooth shave is what counts but like you I want it to be as good as it gets so I will try to push the envelope. What my friend Randydance taught me regarding the TPT was to take a new DE or SE blade and get the feel of what a sharp edge feels like alternately with the straight I am honing. It worked for me.

The way I understand it the BBW had larger garnets than the yollow and therefore cuts differently. At least I am pretty sure that is what Bart has posted in the past. In terms of honing on the bbw with slurry, I take and start to see if the blade will pop hair off the forearm without touching the skin.

Now you can also see if it will shave hair off the forearm touching the skin if you don't have many razors to hone or care whether you're going to be walking around with bald spots on your arm.

When I first got started honing many ebay specials people thought I had some sort of skin disease with all of the patches of hair gone on my arms and legs. Now I have gotten to where I can feel the edge grab the hair and I know where the sharpness is without actually cutting the hair.