Hi there, and I apologise if I start here by writing too much!

Back-story:

About 5 years ago I started using a straight razor; I don't really remember why, but I probably thought it looked cool; regardless, I stopped after about a year, and ended up using an electric. A few weeks ago I started waking up earlier, and figured I'd give the thing another crack - and I'm glad I did, it's a very relaxing way to kick off the day.

I currently have:

A Dovo 5/8 hollow (sent out for honing when received).
Dovo XL leather strop.
8k Norton waterstone.
Badger brush (I can't recall the brand).
Taylor of old Bond Street sandalwood.

My problems:

It's been so long, that I feel like I need to start again. The razor drags a bit in the usual areas, and some spots on my face it doesn't seem to cut the hair at all (dimples, so I assume technique). At the moment, I'm only doing one pass with the grain.

I think I'm stropping ok, albeit straight and not X, which I believe is ok on the wider strop; I keep it taut, and am careful not to swipe the tip.

When I came back to this, I gave the blade about 30 laps on the 8k, which may have been a mistake. I never lapped the stone (I didn't know what lapping was), so I went back, lapped it, and did a good few more passes. It doesn't pass the hanging hair test, and it's no better at shaving than it was before. I don't really have any honing experience, or enough SR shaving experience to state the issue, but I assume the blade isn't sharp enough any more. I don't know if I can (or should even try) to get it there on the 8k; I'm wondering if I should just send it off somewhere and use the electric until I get it back.

Should I even try to get it shave-ready, as a beginner, with only an 8k?