Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
Now you have a "stake in the ground" that every planer is familiar with that all your other work can be compared to, including the home made blade.

Conclusions:

1. David can make a blade as good as a commercially made blade.

Alternative conclusion
1. There was discussion somewhere back that Hock blades were lacking. Confirmed they are as good as David's, or visa versa depending how one wants to look at it.

2. If there is a hardness difference between these blades that data show that it is not significant in feet planed to failure. (you need to get hardness tested on your blade)