rodb - razor was shave-ready, honed by a reputable UK supplier.
3rd shave complete after a first stropping attempt. Less resistance than 2nd shave. Realising that unless the correct angle is used for each part of the face, then no amount of effort will help cut those whiskers. Have a fair bit of razor burn, but nothing more than 1 or 2 days break. Will concentrate on angles and beard prep - which seems more important than DE shaving. The tactile nature of SE shaving means you directly feel how prepped the beard is. The sound of the blade cutting is also key in guiding the right angle, especially since I would not normally wear my glasses while shaving!
Glad I'm doing this experimenting over the holidays.