Hi Kevin,
I believe that after reading and writing, we are both saying and to some extent agree, more or less, about the same thing(s)...Now, I understand what you mean by "backwards"!! I do get it. In your case, you are your best self control. I get it and I won't disagree with you. Beyond that, everything else is "moot" (to use the term loosely).
I think using one as a control is what, in scientific parlance, is considered an "internal" control. This, in the case of our shaving exercise, is always present (and ever varying) and no matter how hard we try, it is a variable that cannot be changed...unless we take ourselves out of the equation, hence creating a paradox (no self, no shave)...anyway, I digress. My internal control, as I see it is my technique...how good my shave is, my skin, my mood, honing & stropping techniques, etc, etc, etc...The internal control is what we all try to fine tune and improve.
What I was referring to in my post, is the "external" control. These are things I can use to compare the performance of my hardware (razor sharpness, hones, strops, cremes, soaps, etc, etc, etc...). This is where I see the comparative nature of the exercise coming into play. Take honing for example; In order for me to be able to tell if I have (or can) achieve a certain blade sharpness, I need to compare my technique to someone who can do this (and has done it for longer than I).
This, in no way requires for me to throw in the towel and admit that since there is a learning curve to honing, it must by extension be difficult and probably impossible to do. This should be seen as an opportunity to learn the technique and become proficient. I think that honing is simple in its own right, but it is an art. And I, for one, am trying to master :).
Thanks for the discussion...I enjoyed it. I do admit, that I do have a lot to learn.
Cheers,
-Robert