It is no doubt we have an extreme number of high performance skiers here in the community. But for the other 90% of the skiers out there, can they really feel the difference between a different type of grind?
YES! I don't know that they could tell the difference between good and great, but definitely bad from good. They wouldn't know that's what they are feeling, but they'd feel it.
I can definitely feel the difference between a good tune and a bad tune (i.e., with the edges, if there's a hanging burr or whatever). I can feel if the base edge angle has increased beyond what I like. I can feel if a ski's base structure has been worn away, especially in "wetter" snow conditions.
But I'm not sure I could feel any distinction between two different base grind patterns on otherwise identical skis.