After trying a variety of stones, these are my favorite, and the workhorse of my sharpening kit. Eventually, I will have only kuromaku stones. The don't require soaking after intial setup, have a nice feel, work quickly, and are easy to flatten.
I was surprised how annoyed I was with the messy swarf left behind by diamond and oil stones. I prefer a stone that can easily be lubricated and washed with water.