Good advice, once you do get your synthetics sorted and can produce consistently good shaving edges with an 8k, then introduce naturals.
Compare your naturals to an 8k edge, hone the razor to a pristine 8k edge, then hone the toe half on the natural and compare the stria and the edge to the 8k.
You may find that few naturals will produce a finer stria or straighter edge than 8k. At least until you learn that stone, (slurry, pressure, stone finish) and even then, you may still be going backwards.
None of you honing will improve if the razor has issues keeping the edge off the hone. Learn to hone on a hollow ground, shoulder less razor of good American Steel. It is the most consistent and easiest to take an edge. Not saying they are the “Best” steel, but Little Valley, hollow ground shoulder less razors are hard to beat, a snap to hone and shave a dream.
Don’t fight the razor, learn to hone first, then look for challenges.