Like most people who get interested in honing I like to have a clear picture in my head as to what is actually going on and as to what the variables are.
It seems to be pretty simple however. I could experiment but more than likely what I'd find out is what I already think I know.
The goal of most of us is just to have a good shaving blade and that is one that is sharp and not so harsh.
These seem to be the variables and steps. Set the bevel and make sure it can cut hair all along the blade (toe, belly, heel).
Go to the 4k and remove the 1k scratches.
Go to the 8k and remove the 4k scratches.
To this point that's about all you can do to affect the end result.
Go to the 12k and polish what you have brought to the 12k. If your finisher is the Chinese hone then you could do extensive tests to see if it is doing anything, what it's like to shave directly off it, etc.
But more than likely if it seems like it's a finer stone than the 8k you are probably helping things so why explore further?
Maybe try shaving off an 8k and then the next day shave off the Chinese hone as see if it's a bit sharper.
Go to a pasted strop, plain strop and whatever you get is what your system can produce.
Therefore, you really don't even have to experiment to this degree. Just stay on the 4k and 8k until you are sure that you aren't improving things and go to the Chinese stone (in my case) and go to the pasted strop and then plain leather and if it's a smooth shave...you're done.
There is no more you can do to improve that edge.
You can get other hones, learn other systems, and have a lot of fun but you can't really change the physics of what is going on so you aren't going to materially change the end result.
Another observation :) People generally aren't crazy in the DE world with Derby blades and like Feather blades. The Feather blades are very sharp and maybe a little "keen". Derby blades aren't so sharp but might be described as "smooth".
I'd just call them "dull" but ...semantics. :)
In the straight razor world however natural stones tend to result in smooth edges but that's because they are a little dull compared to the crisp edges from synthetic hones.
People say you have to get used to shaving off a coticule because it doesn't seem to shave quite as sharply as you may be used to.
Aren't natural stones just the Derby's of the straight world? :)