O.K., this has been bothering me for some time...

When a spine is taped, the hone encounters two very different surfaces -- the steel on the bevel, and the tape on the spine.

The abrasion resistance of the tape has to be much less than that of the steel bevel. Assuming equal pressure on both spine and bevel, the tape will wear more quickly, lowering the spine in relation to the bevel, and effectively changing the honing angle with respect to the bevel.

Specifically, this shallower angle will concentrate honing forces not on the very edge of the bevel, but closer to where the bevel meets the body of the blade. The more you hone, the more this effect would come into play. After the first stroke, you are no longer honing the edge, but somewhat higher on the bevel.

I know that in practice this doesn't occur. But it mystifies me why it does not. Wish I knew how to post a diagram, but maybe it is clear from the above.

Anybody got an answer?

Yeah, I think about honing a lot....