A year in and I'm of the same mind as Jnats. With the exception of a good bevel setter, I'd much rather have a natural hone progression of 1-2 stones. I don't know enough about Japanese naturals to say they're the method I'd have gone with instead. But I would probably be happier if I had bought a couple of smaller Arkansas medium/extra fine stones as opposed to the norton 4K/8K.