Glen thanks for that nugget of information about two stages to stropping. I have found that it's my weakness, and the variable that has the most effect on edge (for me) - even more that honing. I'm very focused during honing and pay attention to every detail, but somehow I feel like I don't have the control during stropping.
So I (and maybe the OP) should dial back and just try to "do no harm" until those skills can be "honed".