Sharpening. My two cents worth.

I copped a lot of flack when I was an apprentice for using Japanese stones.
All the old boys used oil stones and a leather strop. I tried using the foreman's method once but I couldn't get it right. He did though. I have never ever come across any two woodworker's who use the same method. But they all got the results anyway so it was never something we argued about or contested. My old buddy Mike liked  hollow grinding the bevels but I prefer a flat bevel. Grandad was a double bevel man. I don't like that style at all though. 
Bevel angle ? I'm all over the shop on that one. Some tools work better with a lower angle. Some higher. Depends on the job too.
My Addis carving chisels like a very low angle and the steel in those old chisels is superb.  Very fine, wonderful balance. 
I don't like blunt tools. I don't delay on sharpening but I sharpen quickly. 
I keep three smoothing planes sharp at a time. Run them till they are all dull then sharpen all three blades in one go. 
For fine finish planing I have four Japanese planes. Same method.
I really like the Atoma diamond plates. Reasonably priced, great for reflattening stones and chisel backs. 
Best finishing stone I've ever used ? Takenoko 5000 grit. Fast. Peels off the burr nicely. Never used a Tormek so no idea what they are like. 
It was always considered very bad form to question another's sharpening technique unless they were a struggling apprentice who needed guidance. It was also bad form to borrow tools. If you were to cheap to equip yourself you lost respect.