1. I always lap under running water.
2. If the diamonds come out that easily, it isn't worth using
3. If the honing didn't kill the plate, then the aggressive cleaning I am doing to it surely will.

I am thinking it must be a defective DMT. I do/did everything right including rinsing the thing extremely well after use. There is no way after just a few uses that the DMT or ANY lapping stone should be bald. On to Plan B.

Thank you for the DMT C.S. info