Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)
A2 cannot operate ideally in long grain at 30 degrees, so there is no reason to believe it would tolerate end grain well at all at 30 degrees.

That does not accord with my experience, David. I have years and years of using A2 steel with 25 degree bevels in a LA Jack shooting end grain. I cannot recall when it chipped. More recently, I completed tests with the Veritas Shooting Plane with the same blades and angle, and it lasted and lasted.

Regards from Perth

Derek