Really appreciate all the responses so quickly. Here are some more details to help us, ahem, hone in on the answer.

I have only ever had the one blade. It's been professionally honed twice and personally honed four or five times.

Beard could be thickening. When does that happen? I'm 32.

I do get a little razor burn.

Sounds like honing most likely. Everything I've read says you don't need that very often,though and I just did it a week ago. If it's my method, then I don't know what to say. I followed Lynn Abrams' instructions exactly, using a three stone pyramid. Just confused. And a bit ticked if I spent money on those stones and ruined my blade.