I know this has been asked before, and I've even asked a similar question before myself. The difference is that I'm actually to the point where I'm ready to invest in some hones, and have a couple of razors that are in need of proper honing including the Frederick Reynolds I just restored.
I'm more comfortable with man made hones because I have more experience with them. Also, cost is a major concern.
So, I've narrowed it down to either buying the norton 220/1k + 4k/8k + SiC flattening stone setup from amazon for $114, or buying the 1k,4k, and 8k shapton glass before the excellent sale from jendeindustries runs out. (roughly the same price)
The 220 is of no concern because I have a 200/300/400/600 DMT type sharpening set for grinding out chips.
Whichever way I go, I "may" be able to swing a shapton 16k or some other finishing stone, and I can always add one a little later; and I can probably get by with just my barber hone for finishing if I need to.
The big problem is that I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger. I look at the options, and I just can't find that one compelling reason to take the norton over the shapton, or the shapton over the norton.
If my honing experience is useful, I've honed and/or sharpened just about everything except razors. Pocket knives, kitchen knifes, scissors, wool shears, saw blades, chain saws, axes, you name it. I've also used my DMT type set to grind chips out of ebay trash blades with good results, and even used them on my Frederick Reynolds to even out a bevel and spine that were VERY uneven from years of improper honing.
Also, I know that you can lap without the DGLP, but for the time being, my only lapping option would be wet dry sandpaper. I just can't afford the DGLP any time soon, and my DMT type set is too small (about 3"x6"). If sandpaper won't get the job done, at least in the short term, I guess that will be the big deciding factor.
Any advice is welcome