Jim,
I don't think you can really say one style of strop is better than another as in my opinon they are for different tasks. The hanging strop is a tool for daily stropping before and maybe after a shave. It aligns the edge, it really does not sharpen if you want to classify sharpening as metal removal.

The paddle strop on the other hand is, well on a 4 sided paddle anyway 75% a tool for sharpening by metal removal with abrasive pastes. The other 25% would be the plain side for regular stropping and it is added as a compromise so a single tool can do too jobs.

Both are designed for different tasks. I do have a few customers that only use a paddle though for daily use. Maybe they have little room for a hanging strop or maybe they like having more control.

As for the leathers on my site I actually offer 4 types for hanging strops. My Heirloom Latigo which is a matt finish, oil/wax treated vegtable tanned leather. It has the most draw of any of my leathers and of any strop I have owned or tried. Next would be the natural leather. This is a harder surfaced, plaing leather that really needs to be dressed to use it effectively. I like Neat's Foot Oil on these and soak them a few times now before selling them. Sadly they won't look as pretty because the leather does not take the color from the oils evenly and looks a little mottled. it can also satin around the hardware. They work well but to me are not as pretty.

I also offer Keith DeGrau's fine Hand American leathers. These are a slick, hard finish leather with a high silica content. They work more by polishing I think than through the draw they create. the slick finish does not give as easy to feel feedback but they get the job done well. These come in a smooth finish and a finish with fine crosshatching cut into them to create more draw. Keith has put a lot of research onto his leathers and I am sure he could add volumes to this if he is lurking here tonight <g>.

My newest daily strop is my Latigo on the front and Hand American diamond cut red on the back with the meatl loop ends. I use a separate lien strop with it when I want that surface.

BBoth the Dovo and Jemico strops are fine products too. I have seen but not owned strops from them and would like to try a few out to get more feedback for my own designs.

I hope to have Beligians by weeks end.

Tony