. . . But my blade is sharp and slight nicks can test to that. . . .
. . . Besides "it'll nick me", how do you assess whether the blade is sharp?

. . . How much stropping do you do between shaves? On what?

What you're describing _could_ be caused by a blade that's slowly getting dull. A dull blade is plenty sharp enough to nick your face, but _not_ sharp enough to cut hair.

My suggestion for angles:

. . . Start with the blade flat, and raise the spine just enough so the edge catches and cuts your beard.

That will happen with the blade almost flat going ATG, and with the spine elevated more XTG, and elevated the most WTG. That's my experience, anyway.

Charles