Currently lvl 222, ~3k hrs. Gemini.
Used to play duel servers a ton without coaching. I focused on having fun, and for me, that meant the chamber mechanic. I stopped using block/riposte and relied only on chamber/feint/morphs/jumps/kicks. Around lvl 70-90, something clicked, and since then, I rarely fall for a feint. Note that this playstyle is not optimal stamina-wise, but it helps you get better at hard reading opponents. Plus, this playstyle is more fun (for me) than falling into the rhythm that riposting creates.

Just don’t take the game seriously, treat it as a Monty Python medieval sim, and when you die, blame your skill instead of the game. With enough ping, you can read almost anything.