RH Preyda Arkansas Water Stones

I dunno. People try to make sharpening knives seem like it's the most complex thing ever. Man has been rubbing steel on stone for ages. Sure, it's more difficult than running a knife through a pull through - but it's not rocket science.

You're absolutely right. This company takes the waste from traditional Arkansas stones (novaculite), grinds it and grades it, and then binds it into these stones. By all accounts they're pretty good. Buyers should compare these to Japanese water stones...NOT to traditional Arkansas stones (e.g. full blocks of high quality novaculite, which often run north of $100 depending on the quality). So listen to Jaggi and don't buy these if you want a premium *block* of novaculite. These should be fairly comparable to ceramic water stones. Not sure what the binder is, but wanted to confirm your hunch.