We must not turn the HHT into a goal on itself.
As Garry mentioned: the important factor is how the razor shaves.
I attempted to make the HHT as objective as possible, by recommending absolutely clean hair from a constant source, with well aligned observations that can be made. But in the end, everyone needs to correlate his own results to his own shaving results. This only require that you perform the HHT and connect it with a mental note to the shaving performance of the razor. The more you've done this, the more you will be able to predict how well the razor will shave.
With all that said:
Straight off the Coticule, I never get HHT-4 or 5. I get to pop thicker hairs at 2" or more from the holding point. And thinner hairs at 1" from the holding point. Stropping brings me to HHT 4 or 5.
It also depends a bit on the Coticule, let's say within a margin of less that one full point. Dave's "La Grosse Blanche" for instance, will only pop thick hairs at 1" of the holding point, coming straight off the hone. But the shaving performance is completely on par with other Coticules, and the skin-friendliness is unrivaled. I think the ultra smooth edge does not catch the hanging hair as well as other edges with slightly more bite.
The bottom line is:
[note] Get to know thy hair, thy stone and thy razors.

[/note]
Best regards,
Bart.