I understand there are some differences in use between the two. Forward stroke as opposed to a stropping backwards stroke. Different substrates clay, glass, balsa, linen, leather, ect. but essentially isn't a synthetic stone just paste held together within a substrate? Some people will use an expensive 20k synthetic hone but for one reason or another wouldn't use CrOx on glass, balsa, or anything else. Why? What is the difference in your opinion? Isn't it just basically a 20k pastes set in a stone shaped substrate? What would be different than say putting a 20k paste on top of a hard stone? Same strokes, same grit, synthetic, and much cheaper.

Please share your personal thoughts on this. I have been wrong many times before.