I hear ya. I truly got some great edges from barber's hones after figuring out what was what on a few.
No better edges can be had, if the right hones are selected in the middle/finish. Good stuff.
Problem comes in on setting the bevel. Even a coarse BH will take a lot of time. Slow, yet effective, for bringing some edges back. After all, they were made to refresh an edge. Not make one.