You can get a good shave off a coticule, Thuringian or barber hone. Many barbers have done just that for a living. I can get a razor popping hairs off a coticule and a Thuringian. I never tried a synthetic barber hone. But I too have experimented with many other and fancier hones. My Nakayama is seeing less use than it used to do. All those hones have been fun though.

It all boils down to the question: do you want to have a good shave with or without fooling around with fancy hones?