Learn to use an x stroke,or as some call it sort of like a windshield wiper,on a 3 in strop you will just go up and down as a newb.thinking all is well.
all strops are maliable,they flex they bend,get a 2.5 inch strop,that is what you will get in the long run.
the adege of telling newbs to start with a 3 in. Is B.S,saying they are better for the newb is B.S,JMO