There are lots of potential issues in addition to ROH:
Many sharpeners create a slight very thin extension (created from a reshaped sharpening lip or burr), whether they know it or not, which extends slightly beyond the hollow. The longer the extension, the more sharp and grabby the edge - and vice-versa. This is a form of sharpness that is a separate issue from ROH.
Many (most?) sharpeners dull the edges slightly after sharpening, because many people don't want it too sharp, and don't want to have to change the way they skate before and after sharpening. Your new one may dull it more, so the edge is less grabby. Another form of sharpness that is a separate issue from ROH, though it has the side effect of shortening or removing the extension too.
He may also have used a LESS fine wheel or stone, which means he didn't generate as sharp an edge, or as great an extension, in the first place. Though I'm not sure why that would make it quieter - it leaves a rough edge, if you look under a microscope.
I tend to have a quieter ride when my blades are MORE sharp, because there is less side slip.
However, if I push down harder (which I need to do if the blade is less sharp, or if the ice is too cold or too warm), there is a crunching noise.
Some sharpeners leave the sides of the blade and edge very rough, because they don't lubricate the metal before sharpening. That creates noise. Maybe he is careful.
There are simply too many variables. I agree that you could ask the sharpener what he did, and with what tools.
And use him again, and again, forever.
However! If he removed the nicks, which involves taking off less metal, he would also be removing any surface roughness, that would make the blades much quieter, because the non-edge parts are smoother. They be a bad issue if he always removes more metal (as many hockey sharpeners do - hockey players create a lot of nicks, and their blades are cheaper, so it makes sense.), you would have less blade lifetime. About the only way to tell is to use a calipers or micrometer to measure the length from a fixed point to the edge. A good figure skate sharpener using a powered machine tool and a reasonably fine wheel will usually remove roughly 0.003" of metal. A hand sharpener using a fine stone can remove somewhat less and get the same effect, because at slower sharpening speeds, he/she reshapes the metal, and doesn't need to grind off as much.