One thing to consider if taping becomes the norm for you is to change it at the first sign of wear. Tape wears way quicker than steel, especially on lower grits. Not changing the tape especially in the end game of honing make most of your work pretty much useless as little if any polishing is done on the very edge where it is desired. I obviosly have a bias toward placing one layer of tape at the end of honing to max out the effect of my finishing stone. The same effect could be accomplished without it by experienced hands but this works for me right now all of the time.