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Depends how you look at it.
I look at it like this:

#1 it will last a few life times
#2 currently the yen is low and th eprice is actually very good
#3 Eschers go for more for less stone and...

tools from japan

With practice you will come to realize that after a quality finisher pastes are not adding anything to the edge.

no pastes needed at all, my bench stops have been sitting in the corner unused for many months now.