YH WMs 2hr reference isn't just run it two hrs. It what they say is the run time of a sharp band treated well with debarker etc.
It is reference to the time in the wood. Basically they say many Sawyers push their bands too far resulting in less life of the band due to the need to grind more material off to get the profile right on an overused band.
For me, I watch the cut, listen, pay attention to the sound and more. If I think a band isn't cutting right it comes off regardless of how long I've used it. It then gets placed somewhere safe out of the weather until I'm done sawing a d then it goes into the resharp box and into the truck until I'm back at the shop.
One of my goals thus year (re: learning) is to change my mindset from producing to producing better.
I am always learning and I try to share that with others in large part because what you all share with me 😉