Gary, you being a pro barber might be able to comment on this ..... After honing a fair amount of razors on synthetics and on naturals I came to believe that the reason all of the old barbers I knew in New Jersey a quarter of a century ago honed their razors on a coticule.

The smoothness is one big thing and they don't get "scary sharp" to the extent that they nick the skin easily. Not that you can't get a razor that sharp on a coticule but as a rule they are plenty keen before they ever get to that point.

Sort of like the difference in shaving with a DE and using a scary sharp Feather as opposed to a more forgiving Derby. That is IME anyway. YMMV.

BTW, I bet your loving that Livi loom strop. They are bad to the bone.