Loved the photos! At one of our last meets we too as a NC contingent had a USB scope and computer by a member to look at edges before and after some time on the stones. We did not do linen and leather that day. You could see real quick the effects of a touched up razor on a hone than it was prior of course and one would expect that.

Your in depth look into this just sheds light that whatever a persons method may be, whether using linen or web prior to leather, and whether using Cro-Mox prior to the linen or web then leather the effects will be better than not.

I have a ritual like most I am sure. If I am doing a full blade workup it is in this order for simplicity (without going into grit of stones and progression):

Stones
Cro-Mox
Linen or web
Strop

End is a shave ready razor that is rather sharp you might say that glides across my face for a super close shave.