"Do what works for you. If that means you hone upside down in outer space on a pyramid shaped piece of sandpaper using butter for a lubricant - and you get a good shaving edge - then do that"It is, in my opinion, extremely silly to get into arguments on this subject. Do what works for you. If that means you hone upside down in outer space on a pyramid shaped piece of sandpaper using butter for a lubricant - and you get a good shaving edge - then do that. To espouse one method as better than the rest for everyone else doesn't make any sense. It's sort of like trying to push your religion on someone. It might not fit.
Getting a good shaving edge is the important thing. Most of the rest is subjective. There is very little distinction between a really good edge between the better stones, regardless of the method used: flat stone, convex stone, etc. A really good pasted strop/balsa edge can "edge" out a really good stone edge sometimes but they are not nearly as forgiving either. But a lot of that comes down to shave technique and experience.
In the end, what that means is: personal preference is a factor for every one of us.
If someone finds a way, even if it looks strange that works for them i like to hear about it. Someone else might also learn something from it. Arguing about why it is not working, when it clearly is working for that individual is pointless.
We are all at different stages in the learning process.
Honing a razor is in principle not that complicated. To be able to have something to discuss we are basically left with discussing details that may not be all that interesting to everyone.
I do not care about reading long threads about shaving soaps or creams, but allot of people find this interesting. To me there is really not a night and day difference in performance.
I agree that a process/method comes down to the individual using it. For me my methods and tools have not changed much, but the result sure have.