JSCOTT, to me it sounds like your stropping and honing may have improved and had a lot to do with it. What makes me think that is the description of the pulling. Typically, that has to do with sharpness. What's really happening for most newbies is that they can't maintain a constant cut with the razor and end up skipping or not fully cutting all the spots. The short strokes allow for constant correction, but it takes a while to understand what the correction has to be.
As you improve you have a better feel for blade angle (flatness) and how the cut should feel. That allows for longer strokes because you're adjusting the razor to maintain the cut. See Lynn's video where he does the entire side of his face in one sweep, and watch the blade angle change as he goes around the jaw. That takes a lot of skill. It comes in time, but not quickly for most of us.