I've only been around here about 6 weeks, but I've gathered a few tidbits of info. My guess is that your razor was not shave ready when you purchased it. Stropping an unhoned razor is not going to make it shave ready and honing a SR is nothing like honing a knife. Stropping is for maintaining the edge between honings. Your best bet would be to look up one of the many honemeisters here on SRP and have them work their magic on your razor.

I noticed you commented that the shave prep takes a lot of time. That's one of the reasons many of us have chosen SR shaving. It forces us to slow down and enjoy the shave, in an otherwise hurried world.