Hello Al, and welcome! It sounds like you're off to a good, careful, mindful start. Yes, it's a skill, and it's one you'll enjoy improving for the rest of your life. After some point, your improvements will be almost imperceptibly small, with the occasional new insight or breakthrough. Those moments are really fun, and give you new variables to play with for the subsequent weeks or months until they fade back into your imperceptable progress.

My thoughts to add to your own...

On angles: I use a low angle for my first passes over the easy zones, but increase it to give the edge a better bite at the stouter whisker bases on and around my chin.

Relathering: Yes! In fact, I lather my whole face, do everything but the mustache and between my lower lip and my jawline, directly beneath my mouth. Those last spots are, as on your face, the most difficult one. I do a complete rinse at that point, getting the rest of my face clear of the soap and re-wetting the whiskers before giving them a fresh lathering and the extra attention it takes to shave them away.

Dry hands: Plus or minus. I keep my blade hand from getting slick with soap, but don't work too hard to keep it dry. For stretching traction I use a washcloth between my left hand and my skin. I've also mapped out my shave so that I'm never trying to grip from an area that hasn't been shaved yet.

I very much believe that you're enjoying this. It shows in how carefully you're thinking about it. I'm glad you've discovered the hobby.

Best wishes to you