Took me a little bit to get caught up (I actually got caught up yesterday), some good stuff.
You mentioned how you had not done your usual face care while growing the beard and that may have had an impact on the weeperville shave...I agree. Not only that, you had just gone skiing and that had to play havoc on your skin. I on the other hand continued to face lather at least once daily and regularly rubbed in a beard oil or one of my vintage dandruff oils (love the vintage JB oil). On the day I shaved I had rubbed in some oil that morning and only lather/hot towelled before the shave. In short, I kept a solid routine and the resulting shave was not at all bad.
Now, about the head shave. I say head shaving with a mohawk is like face shaving with a goatee, it takes skill to keep things straight but also removes some of the real estate being shaved. YOU definitely need to continue to head shave with a DE just so you can get through some of your soap.
Like Dave, I am one who will one day likely end up going full cue ball. My wife has actually encouraged it as a solution a chronic skin issue and hereditary thin hair. If I am to shave my head with a straight or DE I will definitely need to improve my flexibility. My current muscle-bound status and neck nerve thing I have trouble comfortably reaching around behind my head.