My wife wants me to rip out our porch

I don't use slag (finely crushed stone) because it drains exceptionally well until it doesn't. This depends on the soil and water but I'd never use less than #1 crushed slate because when the landscape fabric fails (or if you enjoy the work and want to keep doing it, you don't use it at all) the fine silt builds up and clogs the stone (scale causes hydration of the stone, with subsequent crystal matrix formation) and it can literally turn into a natural concrete of sorts, especially if limestone is in the slag). Which then defeats the purpose of the bed - to lay flat, forever, and allow drainage.

But Jake's spot on - that shit mashes down big as shit and forms a perfectly flat surface to lay down flag, brick, pavers...whatever.

Personally I like the look of stamped, colored concrete but those dudes charge a shitload.

Also: he's spot on with bluestone. I helped my sis out and did her patio (like 450 square, which is fucking nuts) in PA blue stone and it looks great except the flatness since she wanted to skip digging, and compaction, and used sand as the grout agent which is an exceptionally bad idea. It's amazing it looks good for being 5 years old and half assed at best.

I laid some serious pipe last night

Yes, Pat, you are indeed one of the handiest men I've ever spoken with LMAO