I guess I'm bias from trying edges that used paste to substitute for proper stone work. When guys write about wanting to take up honing, I tell them about smooth comfortable shave from an 8k level. If I understand correctly, the honorable Randydance was the first to speak of the 8k edge as a gateway to any further work. (Thank You!)

I'd almost say that its time for the pastes when you don't need them to get a good shave from the stones. With proper stone work, they can add/tweak the feel to a particular attribute you like. I had pronounced a whole bunch of hard steel heavy grinds as 'silent shavers'. I prefer feedback - like we get from Robert W.'s SRP special. I found a bunch of heavy grinds started giving feedback after only 16-20 INCHES of stropping on .5 diamond on hard felt. When the stone work is done adequately, the rest is gravy - try as many finishes as you can. I've enjoyed CBN as much as any, unless its a silent, heavy grind mentioned above.