I have finally been successful in not using sandpaper prior to finishing.
On my entertainment center, I have managed to use just planes and a card
scraper to prepare the door panels and one of the back panels for finish
(that's as much finishing as I have done thus far).

What turned the corner for me? Bagging the Sandvik scraper I had been
trying to use and getting a Lie Nielson card scraper (cost me all of $8.00,
I think). I've struggled with trying to put a hook on the Sandvik for
years and was only moderately successful sometimes. The Sanvik managed to
gall my burnisher more than the burnisher managed to turn a hook on the
Sandvik. I have now successfully turned a hook on the Lie Nielson scraper
more than several times and it seems to be consistent without having to use
extraordinary effort to get the hook. I was told that LN uses the same
material as they use on their backsaws for their scraper stock. The
material is much more flexible than the Sandvik (easier on the fingers
during use), and as I said, turns *so* much easier. The hook seems to be
pretty durable, I've been able to do quite a bit of scraping on a single
sharpening of the 4 edges. It seems plywood scrapes mostly dust,
regardless of hook age, but test runs on hardwoods return small shavings.

I'm a happy camper.