I've used a Swaty and the Carborundum 103 with great results and the Lithide hone with spotty results. With the Lithide some razors worked and some wouldn't, so I tossed it.

I have never tried to hone up a razor with a barber hone, I only update with them. Well I take that back I used to a few years ago use them as my "finishing stones" because I didn't understand how to use the 8K side of the Norton.

I use the Carborundum with 6-30 light strokes, usually dry then with lather.

The Swaty is kinda funny, a little inconsistent (I think its my fault some) but it either puts the sharpest edge on the planet on a razor or produces an ok edge. It responds better to carbon for me.

What I like the most is how slow they are and how its nearly impossible to over hone with the Carborundum. Its a very wierd hone, almost has a semi pourous surface. The all come with specific directions for how to update hone an edge you've been shaving with, usually in the 6-10 light strokes area. My favorite text was "to use a light airy stroke" not only did that work well but my honing improved on every stone when I started using light airy strokes.

Now I find the Norton far better, just like you, but there was something cool that happend to my honing when using a barber hone that made everything click.