This is normal. I think your scope should reveal the "secret" behind this behavior Strop will always improve and align whatever hone you came off of, if we are talking razor grits (I.e. relatively high, like 1k and above).

The cutting edge off of your Atoma is certainly not refined and does not slice the hair, but it's the teeth of the edge that "cut" (tear) and give you a false impression of sharpness. 1K should definitely improve this. Have you looked under the scope to make sure you've removed all the stria from the Atoma, with your Norton? Anyway, I would say a new Atoma 400 is way too coarse and aggressive for a razor, even one with pits... Not that I've tried one yet, but it's on the list for sure.

I used a (well worn) DMT-C 320 on a Gold dollar once, because it needed a straighter spine. I remember having the hardest time erasing all the DMT scratches with an 800 and then a 1K hone. My experience was very similar to yours, until I had a clean 1K bevel and edge. Strange thing, but sometimes I see similar behavior comparing 1K and some mid-range stone. I think reasons are essentially the same, just on a more refined scale.

No matter what, it's only important to make sure all the deeper/coarser striations are removed in the progression, as you move up. That and to not overhone and create a wire... Then in the end, it will all come together nicely. You can keep stropping between hones, that won't hurt. I always palm-strop, but don't always go to the full strop.