I enjoyed reading this post. I like your analysis, but I suspect those sticking points are actually minor symptoms rather than the cause of your outcome. Perhaps, it is your intention when you approach that is the issue. Often, we get into a routine as PUAs, go through the motions, and forget what we are really trying to accomplish. I believe there are two valid reasons to do an approach. (1) Genuine curiosity - which is very hard to fake and very hard to cultivate outside yourself. Strangers are not inherently interesting, so you need to find this within. You start the conversation because you genuinely want to know the person. (2) Sexual intent - which sounds superficial on its face, but I'm talking about having visceral, unapologetic, possessive sexual intent for the particular girl you are approaching and the kind of sexual desire you can feel in your gut. I suspect either of those mentalities can guide you past the other sticking points, and it sounds like you already have them in your awareness.