It's interesting that this thread has been re-invigorated after so long :-)

Now I have a wider strop (that I reserve for use on Sundays during my bedroom shaving stand shaves), I DO do more of an x stroke on that strop. After doing the 'partial x stroke' for so long, and after recording my honing sessions (which on reflection seem to be few and far between) I guess I'd have to say the partial x stroke is certainly working for me :-)