Looking for some guidance and opinions.

The last material to touch the edge of the blade before your face is the leather from stropping.

I'd like some input, opinions on some various thoughts around edge quality and what should be seen through a 30x loupe.

First, I've seen many honed edges that are mirror clean, barely see a scratch on them - I gather that is an ideal place to land - clean, polished edge - that's my goal.

Using the loupe, I'll come off a Nani 12k, then a finishing stone, or just the Nani 12k, and either hit the leather, or add Crox then .25 diamond on the back of a felt strop. Sometimes I just do crox, sometimes just diamond, as I experiment with different techniques.

Under the loupe, I'll still see striations, they properly extend uniformly to the edge and they are consistent. But I have yet to get that mirror like edge.

I have been trying not to use any pastes or crox after the stones, with the intent of wanting to feel the edge from the stone, not the paste or spray. But since leather is the last thing to "polish" the edge, does it make a difference then what type of finishing stone you use or if you use paste?

And finally, getting these spectacular mirror like edges, with virtually no visible striations under 30x? Is this chasing the edge, or something that should be aimed for? And finally, I'm curious if this mirror edge is achieved through some long laps on the leather?

I've been experimenting doing lots of laps on the leather - making sure that the edge is in contact with the leather, slow, long strokes. I've found if you try to go quick, it can make an awesome slapping sound and look cool, but how much of that time is the edge actually in contact with the leather is questionable. Lots of leather seems to definitely improve and shine up the edge as expected.

Apologies, covered a few areas, but opinions or tips would be great, and as always, thank-you.