I agree that you cant really compare a paste to a hone. An Escher is about 14k grit but the edge it gives is waaay better than paste IMHO. Coticules are 8-10k and I prefer a coticule edge to paste as well.

Its really down to trying a load of stuff out and seeing what you prefer really! If I was going to use a paste it would be 0.5 CrOx and for finishing hones I'd use either my Nakayama Maruichi or Thuringian/Escher. I think its an Escher but its lost all but a tiny bit of the label so I have no idea! I like to tell myself that it is..!