I would agree that a paddles strong point is in pasted use, not daily unless one is cramped for space or simple has trouble with coordination in manipulating the long flexable hanging strop.

Hanging pasted strops have a large surface area making them an effective, fast working tool but rounding could be an issue with less than mindful use. Here too the harder the surface the more effective I feel, myself prefering a firm leather over cloth for pastes.

Each person seems to find his favorties, and often a bit of experimentation is needed. I have owned or made just about every configuration of strop but have again settled on just a few favorites. A medium width hanging strop w/linen for daily use, a pasted hanging leather strop for quick touchups (just a few quick passes) and a rigid, multi-sided paddle to buy time between honing sessions.

Pastes on cotton of felt, bench hones, etc... all have worked well and have their place but I think I could get by with just the three basics mentioned already and a select two (along with a stone) would really do all I need. A plain daily strop and either a multi-sided paddle OR a pasted leather hanging strop for use between trips to the stone. Which takes me full circle back to the basic 50 year old tool on every barber chair when I was a kid... a 2 part, Sharpen/Finish strop. Both sides leather, one side pasted with a mild paste.

Tony