Take your time, I also had the same problem with thinking that it was dragging and feeling that SR was not for me, I even thought that the razor was not sharp enough to cut the hairs when in fact it was, the leather kept drying up and frustration, I kept at it and it took a while, but as others mention stick with the cheeks with WTG strokes and you will soon feel confident to progress, if it gives you confidence I am at the stage now that I don't feel any dragging and a get a clean smooth shave with 2 WTG passes, there other day I jumped in the shower, jumped out, lathered, 2 passes, dried the razor, stropped it and job done, didn't even think about, if I can do it so can you, persevere my friend and you will get there.
I use a straight every now and then just for the fun/challenge. Otherwise I use a DE. I've never been able to get the chin as close as I can with a DE. It's the same with the under the nose area.
I could just use the straight and get it "good enough" but I'm used to running my hand over my face after a DE shave and it's totally smooth. With a straight it's just never quite there without a DE touch up.
I have kind of a pointy chin and the surfaces just aren't as flat as it is with some of the YouTube shave videos that I have watched.
It's a fun and relaxing "hobby" for me just the same, including the honing but I'm not sure if it's possible for me to get a straight shave that is just as smooth all over as with a DE.
I'm feeling similar - enjoying this thread. Nice to know everyone else has the same experiences.
I'm a few weeks in and I can definitely get BBS on cheeks, using one WTG and two XTG passes (in both directions), but I can't seem to find an angle to go XTG on neck, and ATG is a no go.
Really struggling with the chin - can't seem to pass the blade over out without snagging. And it's been re honed!