What is the advantage or disadvantage (or neither) of setting the bevel and the subsequent honing steps of pushing the blade straight forward on the stone (3" x 8" stones) so the striations on the edge are perpendicular to the spine as opposed to making them at a 45 degree angle. Conventional wisdom says do it at a 45 degree angle and it seems that everyone does it that way but what is the reason or benefit other than everyone else is doing it.

I am leaning honing and am making great progress but this questions popped into my head today as I was trying to get at a heel that was messed up and the only way I could get it was straight forward.

Thanks!!