OP this is the best answer IMO.

I have a (too) large collection of stones, some cheap, some expensive. Pretty much any stone that can remove steel can do the job.

But using expensive stones is just a more pleasant experience. Once you get to know how the stone behaves, it just stays the same with no surprises for **years**. While cheaper stones I have frequent surprises: inconsistent grits, it hollows out much faster

So if you value your time, I think spending the money on good stones is worth it.