There are lots of other finishes that are equally as nice, if not nicer, than the CA or CA/Blo finish. Don't bust your A** thinking that is the be all and end all. Regardless of how your finish looks in the pen above it's about how YOU feel about your finish. If you think it can be better then by all means strive and strive for it to be better. I think some people who are turning pens for the 1st time - regardless of other turning experience, look at the pens produced on this forum and forget that the make has been turning pens for a while. They had to work at it to....
Am I rambling on about nothing??? I feel as if I am rambling on about nothing....... Ruth!!! how many glasses of that vino have you had????