I've only played with three Chinese hones and one Frankonian. I don't consider them to be similar at all. Of course there will be stone to stone variations but my experience with that one Frankonian is that it is much more fine than the Chinese hones. It does seem to be able to impart a superior edge and I am quite surprised by the claims of it being of such low grit equivalents.

Oh well, I guess my rock's better than the other guys' rocks.