PS: Sudsy Soapery has just started selling a tallow based soap called Uplift - I am definitely going to give it a try. The addition of tallow may move it up the list for me.
No, I don't think your perception is different than mine. I'm waiting to find the soap that has excellent cushioning and protection as well, or to get the optimum lather that produces it from my favorites. Sometimes they provide more cushion than others, and I think, like you said, that happens when the water-to-soap ratio is too low to be optimum or produce optimum lather. I was actually glad to read your findings, since they matched my own, and meant it wasn't "just me." Anyway, I'll let you know what I think of the new tallow soap from Sudsy Soapery once my order arrives. I'd also like to hear at some point what results you get with Eufros, which seems to be available right now at West Coast Shaving but is often sold out. Thanks again for your posts.
i'm going out on a limb here...perhaps pre shave prep and post shave strategy might mitigate some if not all requirements?