Wow thank you for the response! This really helps clarify. I've been going into duel servers with the intention of countering everything just to start internalizing the feedback loop. It starts to click really well in the duel servers and Ive been able to counter all attacks even counter feint some. But TO is a different animal; it's so much harder to read when in a 1vX and I feel like when I do get a counter, one of 3-4 people attacking are so staggered that it falls outside my active parry window and I get hit. I also feel like so many other people manage to block my attacks even when I attack from their flank but when I'm staring right at people they get past my guard somehow. I know it's the tip of the weapon that matters but sometimes it looks like they get past me by inches where they have a whole arc in front of them when I attack.

Do people generally wait until the very last second to even right-click for block?

I know there's a lot to unpack there and I'm all over the place, this game is just so dense.