jzen0this has 2 set angles and 2 rod types. with stones you have to learn to set your angle correctly and you have to buy several stones, course medium fine.
with the stones you can reprofile, the sharp maker is not a great reprofiler. i dont think they come with course enough rod, so the stones would be better in that case. spyderco does have additional grits and material rods to purchase sepperately tho (diamond, cbn etc).
the sharpmaker is awesome for touching up blades with either a 30 or 40 deg edge.