Yes, I use hollow grind then hand-hone as well. Otherwise, I think these big leaps from steel "removal" grit to steel "polishing" grit ( following Ron Hock's distinction ) wouldn't work.

My so-called professional stones, not the glass-backed ones, were annotated in Japanese when new. I thought the crazing was actually a network of fractures, but I'm not sure. I continue to use it. The stone isn't falling apart and my tool doesn't catch on the surface. Perhaps it is only superficial. I'll take a photo today if I find a minute.