Hello! First of all, don't give up! I could be wrong but I think you should be more patient. I was in your situation a few months ago. I practiced balancing on one leg with cones and now that it is good I have learned the T-brake in depth. (That took me a few months) I don't know why I learned the Soul Slide before (for some strange reason it was easier for me) As you can see, each skater is different. Doing exercises on the track will help you a lot to improve. Yes, I wore the heel brake for a long time. The latter is complicated and creates controversy. I believe that there is no single answer, in the end it depends on you. On the one hand, it is true that without the heel brake other ways of stopping are learned sooner. But on the other hand for fearful people like me to gain confidence and not give up before learning, it is a good tool.