I've got those diamond plates and I also found the finish harsh off of the 8000. I've read that in reality it is more a 4k than an 8k but I don't know if that is so. I used to use the DMT 1200 for bevel setting but not anymore. I have tried a lot of hones over the past few years and settled on the chosera 1k if a bevel set is needed, and the norton 4&8 for the sharpening and finishing work.

IME shaving off of the norton 8k following stropping on clean horsehide gives HHT and a fine shave. This ought to be done before any higher grit finishing to make sure you've squeezed all the juice out of the 8k before going up the grit ladder.

Gilding the lilly with a finisher is optional. I do, because I had HAD and I've got 'em. IMHO going as far as the 8k and following with chrom-ox and then clean stropping will be all a guy would need to get great shaves for the rest of his life.

The finishing stones are icing on the cake and not really necessary unless that is a part of the hobby you want to pursue. Some of them are great but like I said above, not necessary for a DFS.