"1. I want a stone that doesn't require soaking. The nani 1/3k is quite thirsty and will absorb lots of water even after a 15-20 min soak. As I currently use lapping film above the 3k range, I'd vastly prefer a splash and go stone."
I use the Shapton Karumaku 1000#, It is a "splash and go" stone cuts reasonably fast, IMHO, and wont break your bank account.
Stay Sharp