I would think it would depend on how many steps you are doing. Say for example you have light swirls and do something like Optimum Polish on a polishing pad, but it doesn't get all the swirls. At this point I think a change to a light cut pad would be preferred so you can stick with the Polish as one step. If you instead change to Optimum Compound for more cut, you run the risk of it not finishing down as well and having to do another step.