From what I've read here on the forums and from what I've seen on YouTube, most people seem to want to have as soft whiskers as possible before shaving. However, after reading the old "Shaving made easy" book, I came across this interesting paragraph:

A wrong idea prevails regarding the use of the soap. The popular impression is that the soap is used for the purpose of softening the beard, in which condition it is supposed to be most easily cut. This is a mistake. The soap is used, not to soften the beard, but to produce the exactly opposite effect-namely, to make the hair stiff and brittle, so that they will present a firm and resisting surface to the razor
For me, this makes most sense and I tend to believe that they knew a lot more about wet shaving back then.

What are your thoughts on this? Are most people doing it wrong today by applying hot towels and such before shaving?