I'd say more for lack of experience, which will come. If you strop and dull the edge, you won't know what a shave ready edge feels like. If you start with the edge that's shave ready and the shave isn't as good as you hoped, you can pretty much conclude that your technique or prep need work. If you strop and the shave isn't as good as you hoped, then was it your technique, or your stropping? Cut your variables to as few as possible and eliminate individual problems as you learn. Hope it goes really well!!
Regards,
Howard :)