Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
Neighbor the engineer came by tonight with a model and calculations. (things must be slow at work) The data from the K&K papers provides all the input heat information needed as well as contact area on the blade. Heat generated from the work to push the blade through the wood gets deposited in the wood being planed. Work is required to split the wood apart and the heat from this work for the most part will stay in the wood. Frictional heating from the work to push the blade through the wood is transferred to the blade tip and shaving. We do not know how this heat is proportioned between these heat sinks.

Definition "tip"-the very end of the plane blade

The heat profile on the end of the blade was modeled. It is simply a linear gradient from the tip to the place where the shaving and planed surface ceases contact with the blade, assuming equal heat flux into the blade over this distance. Beyond where the blade no longer touches wood the temperature falls off in a parabolic decay over the length of the bevel. This result means that the maximum temperature of the blade will be found at the very tip, in spite of the fact heat is being deposited along a considerable length of the blade.

If the shaving doesn't carry away a substantial portion of the total heat the blade tip gets very hot. If the shaving carried away no heat the tip would melt.
In thinking about dulling heat is likely a factor.