Yep, when I started I used to do this, if one part of the blade cut hair, off I went to my finishers, end result was a useless shave.The edge in photo 1 will shave arm hair and probably pass a hanging hair test for most.
Most try an HHT and it does not cut the hair. They do not say,” That’s a fail.” They try to cut again at a different part of the edge. When it does cut, they tell themselves, it passed the HHT!
Then run through a quick progression and are surprised when it does not shave so well.
Honing needs patience, if it takes you all day to get that bevel correct, it takes all day, no escaping that. Once you realise this the finishing and shave is totally different.