The various honing patterns are all about the scratch pattern you produce.

The x-pattern and heel leading straight strokes produce the same pattern- slanting toward the spine and toe. This produces microserrations or teeth that look like a saw tooth with a steep leading edge and a a shallow trailing edge. I consider the leading edge to be on the toe side of a tooth. Teeth shaped like this have a shearing action if you shave with a straight pesh or toe leading, so it cuts a little better.

Other honing patterns produces teeth with a shallower rise. If you shave with toe leading, the leading edge of a tooth pushes straight into the whiskers, instead of shearing across them.

You may not notice the shaving differences produced by the x-patter, so it may not matter or you.