Chris, like Eco I like the accordian comparison, it being a visual aid anyone can relate to. I have thought about this topic a lot and have written about it somewhat. Here is a bit more indulgent description of your simply elegant analogy.
I surmise that when a blade is abraded with intent, and metal is removed, the valleys and peaks are defined as scratches, the positive space being the peaks in the form of ridges and the valleys representing the negative space where the material was removed. This structure of valleys and peaks creates tiny angle forms and this micro triangulation on the surface of the blade gives the very edge of the blade where it falls off into space some rigidity.
Depending on the character of the abrasive the valleys and peaks will resemble irregular or regular size striations. As So-san has suggested the natural stones with their irregular grit composition will create valleys and peaks of differing heights and depths.
The way I figure it, if you can design and create a structure using triangulation as your geometry as a means for rigidity and with design incorporate mini triangles (with finer grit particles) next to the larger triangles, the larger triangles will gain strength by the association.
A couple follow up questions might be: after honing, additional stroping using finer and finer grits will polish the surface at the edge, but what else happens at the same time? Why take so much time to establish a "proper or correct" bevel on flattened stones only to refine that bevel on a medium so inconsistantly non-flat as a piece of leather?
Also the one factor in the mix that no matter how the edge is created is the burr. This is the bug-a-boo. Stropping may wear off the burr by alternating strokes on the two sides of the bevel, but at what cost to the geometry of the angle of the edge. Alx