Many of us hereabouts have used this method using different base stones with assorted slurry. It is a really fun way to hone, and you're right in that it really does help you to learn the base stone, and what can be done with different finishers. One of my favorite's was a Translucent Ark with Escher slurry... Here's a great thread from a few years back on this method...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...lynn-glen.html