I think its essential too, but I know for example over at ThePerfectEdge, they just finish on the 30k. Im pretty sure mr.Schecter does not strop... at all.
He finishes on the 30k and shaves, when his edge starts to fade he does a few laps on a coticule to bring the edge up. Not because the coticule is super fine, but because of what it does to the edge.