It's a funny thing thet the diamond stones take steel down so fast, but I haven't been able to get one to get the metal to heal well. So once I get down past a medium/fine (got a diamond stone in the middle) I got to the arkansas stones.
When your gettin that starting angle on a knife I do the same as you, I look for a nice clean flat angled edge. A good way of tellin if you did good is to see if it reflects light evenly. When I get to the fine stone that edge looks like a polished mirror and you can pick up reflections in it real well. IF the reflection is bent, or goes in and out as I tilt the blade I know the angle is different, or there is some rounding and I go back. I don't use a strap to knock burr's off, I have a real fine stone, and a exta fine stone. Once I've hit it good with the fine you can cut a hair (off the skin) without moving it too much. If I know the guy and he can handle a really sharp knife I'll use the extra fine on it. I can get the thing so sharp it only moves the hair about 1 to 2 widths before she's cut, and I got thick though hair so I don't do this fer one or two guy's.
If you did the edge right and it's flat the whole way the blade makes what looks like a pencil mark on the stone. Drag keeps increasing then it's more of a slide feel as the metal latice starts to heal. After that you lighten up the pressure and cut down on the strokes. This lets the edge not be bent by the stone, and lets the rest of the steel get into order. Most edges I do like this last 6 months to a year. Heck as long as your not running the blade on too many bones, you can get through 4 to 6 deer without havin to touch it again. Like I said, i enjoy sharpenin knives - I take about 45 minutes to do the job I just mentioned, but it's worth the time.
Keep in mind I ain't sayin the way anyone else does it is bad, good or otherwise. I'm just sayin what I do, that works fer me.
Spot