Bluroot, Holli4pirating and Jimbo hit this square on the head.

I think what holli4pirating meant, and what Jimbo echoed and defined, was that ultimately it's not a super huge deal which way you strop, so long as the end result is one that is acceptable to you. Because everyone is different, you may have a different stroke than I do, therefore, using an X-pattern for me works great, but may not do the same for you.

The somewhat unspoken thing here is that it won't hurt your razor to experiment with what works best, so long as you're not overdoing it on the pressure or rolling the the edge. As long as good edge and spine contact are present, you can strop as much as you want, however you want until you find something that works for you. I know I don't strop in a perfect X-pattern, but my stropping-technique-of-randomness works for me on a 2.5" strop. The same can be said here. The X-pattern is, mostly, a general guideline... the same way that a 35 degree angle is a general guideline on blade angle. It's ultimately dependent on the razor (or in this case, the one stropping) what the best angle is, but you at least have a good starting point to figure that out.

I think what holli4pirating meant (and in a good way) by focusing on the larger issues is that it takes more skill and practice to learn proper lathering, proper blade angle, proper pressure and so forth, so your time would be better spent focusing on those things since they take a more concentrated effort to master. Let the stropping come by more natural and intuitive means so that your focus can be on the harder skills to attain. Though, if you choose to focus on stropping technique more than what has been suggested, that's your choice, and no one should fault you for it. It's your journey, and if you feel it's important, then it's important.

Either way, if nothing else, the question shows that you're thinking things through and evaluating your routine. This, above all else, is to me the most important thing one can do until they have achieved their goal and can do so with consistency. That is the crux of why there is no such thing as a stupid question.

Keep on learning like you are, and ask any question that comes to mind. As another member stated in a different thread, it's like we have an army of kind uncles on here, and they are all here to impart what they have learned and to encourage us along in our journey.