I'm wondering if anyone could help explain to me when sharpening using the pyramid method what the intermittent passes on the finishing hones accomplishes.

For example, when honing a razor that is far from shave ready and needs the bevel to be established, do the passes on the finer stones accomplish anything significant, or would it be equally effective just to fully establish the bevel using the medium hone, deburr, then move on to polishing the edge with the finishing stones?

Thanks very much.