given my total inexperience, Please help me choose which paste to purchase first. The main point is my shaves are good, but I know they can be better

Here's what I'm dealing with currently. It's my first and only setup:
Shapton 16x
canvas strop
leather strop

ideal would be a smoother against the grain shave, though my first two passes are very nice.
I can see the blade edge change between the stone and the canvas, and between the canvas and the leather, but why wouldn't more time on the canvas make up for not having any paste?

All I understand about this is that the paste also takes more metal from the edge.
Though I did a search comparing the two steps, I could not find anything about how it's a smoother shave.
Since I only own 1 strop, I'd like to use balsa wood (would a wooden paint stur work?).
Lastly, Since the Shapton 16x is labeled as .92 microns would a paste larger than 1 micron be ineffective?

Thanks for the help, and I'll be grateful with a closer shave.
I must say that this site rocks!