Matt,
I'm in the minority here, but I vote for trying the razor without stropping. Lynn almost certainly stropped it before he test-shaved with it, and that'll give you an idea of how your razor should feel. (Lynn may not do a complete shave for the test, so in that case you'll have a partially stropped razor.)
If it shaves, great. If it pulls, don't get too frustrated because it will improve with a good stropping.
In some ways the paddle is better for a beginner, because you don't have to worry about how taut to hold the strop. If the blade has a pronounced curve to it, you will have to make some adjustments as you go through the stroke. Just do it really slow and keep the spine and blade flat and you'll do fine.
Josh