I've always said there is a disproportionate difference between no-guard buzz and shaved -- a greater difference than the removal of that little bit of stubble can account for. But for me, the two are miles apart. There is simply nothing like a slick, bare, smooth, SLY noggin for me.
For me its gotta be slick and smooth. It really is a world away from a close buzz. I feel scruffy if my dome is covered with stubble, and clean and cool (in both ways!

) when its smooth!
I buzzed my head for about 6 months before I started shaving it. There are ups and downs to both. Buzzing is lower maintenance since it doesn't make the dome completely smooth.
I went on a three week vacation, often camping without electricity so I started shaving it, and I couldn't go back after experiencing that a few weeks.
I love how smooth and shiny my head becomes after a nice shave.

In the public perception of the "haired masses" buzzing and shaving would be pretty close. But I like them to think like my nephew does, that I just have no hair sprouting from my head at all, just eyebrows. So I'm a sly man.