I would like to know how long people here have had your first Nortons or Naniwas, especially if you have ever had to replace one, or if you somehow managed to destroy one after the first use. It came as a bit of a shock to me when I learned that these sort of hones (or at least the Nortons, anyway) actually wear down under use by the blades which they should be harder than (otherwise, how would they be able to cut the metal). This after I had bought the Norton 4K/8K, thinking of it as a lifetime investment until I learned that it needs to be lapped often (then I saw a remark posted somewhere that somebody thought they were doing good for still using theirs after two years). The Naniwa 12K is much pricier, and for $100 I could easily buy 1 year's worth of ok disposable safety razors. Not that I can really go back after going where I have already, but if you can please try and make me feel not so much like a milked cash cow. At some point I should be able to spend at least a couple of years just shaving, and taking care of my blades with items already purchased for at least a few years, buying only the occasional soap and badger brush - RIGHT??? Oh, please tell me that will happen!