What does stropping really do? My experince shows that it makes the razor MUCH more comfortable to shave (I have experimented). I have been told stropping won't make the razor sharper but it sure feels dull if you don't strop. I know the book answer is that it aligns the edge. I just don't know what "aligning the edge" means.

Part of me says "You don't have to understand. Just accept that it does work." The other part of me just has to find out why.