Obviously, buying your razor from SRD was a great move. I would send it in and let them hone it for you. When you get it back shave with it before doing anything to it. That will give you a feel for the difference, and if your stropping or prep is off your shaves will go downhill fast.

My experience has been a razor needs attention beyond normal stropping when it starts to pull. Beard length should have no affect on how the blade performs, as the blade is completely open all the time. Short or long the blade cuts the same diameter of each hair.

That said, you can use fabric strops and pastes or spays to extend the sharpness of your blade.