Regarding the strong beard:

I too have pretty stiff whiskers and found that good prep made them a lot easier to manage. I would read over the stuff the pros have recommended, but I shower, finish the shower with the water all the way towards hot on my face for several seconds (I actually really like that feeling now), and use a dab of conditioner on my beard, then shave with a good lather made from a shave cream. I don't know which steps are most beneficial because I started them all at once, but combined they have made my beard much more manageable.

Also I have a 5/8th inch and it seems to do fine, just make sure you get it well honed and strop it properly.