Stropping is underrated on the forums. If you perfect your stropping technique you can go for a long long time without refreshing.
I pulled out a stainless Dovo this morning, that I know was going to under-perform and by rights should have seen some paste. I have a leather strop that I have been working in for a few months and it is just starting to take off. Doubled up my usual number of strokes on linen and leather (no pastes) Really felt the blade shift and it quietened nicely. The result - the edge was back to full performance and I got a lovely shave.