I think earlier on in this hobby I did not really see the need for a slurry stone. I thought that if the natural stone was any good it would not need it. That led to a lot of disappointing experiences with different types of hones. Escher DB was too slow, Vermio and ILR virtually worthless on their own without making hundreds of laps, CNAT was too sticky etc...
The reason I did not use them also was because I thought it would dull the edge, I could not have been more wrong. Then when I decided to start using them there was some improvement but the Vermio and ILR might as well not have slurry stones because it either took too long to raise a slurry or after getting some it didn't help much with their included slurry stones. Not the case for the Escher DB though, that sped things up nicely and produced a great shaving edge.
Fast forward to now. I have limitless ways to make great edges. Try using a light green thuri slurry stone with a Vermio or ILR..... I really don't think it gets any better than that, IMO of course. But that has been my experience, try different slurry stones on different stones and be prepared to open another world of honing. Universe actually, endless combinations... Try thinking of slurry stones as a catalyst.
This applies to naturals only though IME.