If you get a set, keep the puck to practice whipping up a lather. A lot of us started with a whipped dog unseen including me, you can't pass him for service. As for the rest, just make sure you have a serviceable edge, a lot of people (again including me) buy a RSO (razor shaped object) thinking it is a bargain. If you have one I used mine to practice restoring and sharpening techniques. You can get an RSO sharp, but they don't stay that way because of the steel and that is why a lot of people will not bother with inferior blades. A honer knows they are waisting both your time and theirs by sharpening the edge, still, no reason for the guy you called to be a prat about the subject, all he had to do was explain this to you.