My strop has a curve along it's width, such that the razor never sits flat on it without a lot of pressure to flatten out the curve in the strop. When I take my credit card and stand it up on it's edge across the width of the strop, I can see that the edges of the strop are the only thing the credit card sits on. So there's a curve in the strop which leaves a huge gap between the strop's surface and the credit card (or razor) in the middle. The crest of the gap is about 1/32 in some places, and 1/64 in others if I run the credit card down the length of the strop.

I have never stropped in an x pattern which I realize is likely the fatal flaw in methods. I will be from now on, but I still wonder if it is ok for a strop to be in this condition as long as you use an x stroke.

I haven't used the strop much. It's a black leather strop from Straight Razor Designs. Everytime I stropped (more like butchered) my razor, I would rub my hand pretty aggressively up and down the strop to get it warm. When I look at the light's reflection off the leather, I can see a lot of dullish wear in some spots where the razor was making contact, while it's still bright and reflective where is wasn't touching. There's also 1 or 2 small nicks in the edge of the strop I wish to somehow repair or get rid of.