Glenn Madsen near San Francisco
>Now you've heard from the pros, and their valid opinion.

Here's mine:

I build four to six cabinets a years, and one or two kitchens. I still work in my 'day job', so these things get fit in around the road trips, family obligations, community activities, etc.

If my O2-bladed LV Medium shoulder plane needs a thorough sharpening more than twice a year, I'm amazed. I suspect you would be, too. A quick hone at 1200 wet/dry, a buff on the wheel with green stuff, and back to work. The value in the difference of the steels in the plane blade matters to someone else. I'm glad that this is one of the couple of dozen planes in the cabinet when I get to use it.