I enjoy stropping. It's a skill for sure, but of the shaving disciplines it is probably the easiest to get right in reasonably short order. For a few years I took stropping as the chore part of straight razors shaving.and I was using a black Latigo and a Dovo Russian type strops. What changed it, or at least gave me a sense of enjoyment and great results, was getting Kanayama strops, they are a work of art in my eyes, and the results I get make me treat them with respect. I hear you about results, yes all strops perform the same task. But IMHO when using one of their strops they have a great feel, slick draw, pleasure to use. My everyday strop is the Kanayama #70000. I do have a #80000 as back up...talk about SAD, must be the work of the devil. Did I mention, i also have another brand new #70000. Doesn't everyone....