As I said in my post, liljohn, I've gone about twelve months with stropping alone, however, I've also been restoring and honing my own razors that I have used.
I have kept John's razor as my 'control' and have only used it about once a month.
It is only just starting to tug a little going ATG.
If you stuff up your stropping you can ruin the edge on your first shave.
I believe you're going the right way practicing on an old blade to get the flip happening.
Hope this helps.