its not about preference either, its all about experience, no one razor is like the next. all the new and old methods really don't matter much till you know what your doing. and to quote one of the great razor guys out there "honing is easy till it aint!" that's why its so important to actually know what a shaving edge is. then try to get your edges there. the problem is so many new guys think, " I have to hone " when the truth is you put the cart before the horse. a truth be told, once your razor is honed right, the stones get put up for long periods of time. hence learn to strop. the only guys who are honing all the time are the guys who do it for a living. I,m 4 years into this and I still send my razors out, cheaper than stones still even though I bought all the stones. I maintain my razors, cause its the way to go, but you really will benefit from a meet and start right now and learn the basics,, that,ll keep you busy for the next 6 months