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If you can't finish a bevel at 1000 grit and not be too concerned about what's going on (especially with synthetics that are going to blast off any metal that is exposed by the bevel set, anyway),...

I think you need less analysis and more do at this point. It's important to be able to hone a razor to shave with, but once you get to that point, it's not as complicated as your making it sound.
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