Hopefully I wont get too abused for asking this but call it an inquisitive mind and a fan of science.

I have recently begun honing and am having good results under guidance of a respected SRP member here in Australia. Following the normal convention of 1k stone > belgian coticule > cloth strop > leather strop > shave.

I recently read this paper http://www.wickededgeusa.com/files/knifeshexps.pdf in which a series of tests were done and results viewed sing a scanning electron microscope. On page 24 the author seems to conclude that clean leahter actually doesnt have any noticable effect on the edge, leaving a burr at 0.5 micron. He states leather has no abrasive qualities.
The next test uses CrOX and concludes that that paste has a noticable effect redcing the burr to 0.4 micron.
because of the info in the papaer I am considering dropping the use of a claen strop all together.

Given this information, pictures showing no change in the blade on clean leather versus noticable change with CrOX, why do we stay with the convential clean strop? is it the ritual?