Strunk and White: First Impressions

'The Elements of Style' was an 18th birthday gift I recieved from my mom and stepdad. I always thought it was a cool book, but never gave it a close read; mainly because its more of a manual than a story. It's difficult to sit down and read a manual. When we were assigned to read it I looked forward to actually giving this book a shot.
The illustrations could have something to do with it, but this is a pretty enjoyable book. It's dry at times, but it's as excitin5g as a grammar book can be. While reading, I found a couple things especially helpful in my own writing.
1. "Use the active voice" pg. 33 - I consciously try to avoid "I" in anything I am writing. This is because my AP 11 English teacher would have us write essays everyday and one of the rules was no "I". With academic articles the reader shouldn't care what the writer think and I've carried this notion into other writings. The over use if "I" is annoying, I think. (See what I mean?)
2. However (pg. 74). I learned to avoid starting a sentence with "However" when it really means "Nevertheless." I find my self begining sentences with "However" too often, this rule will help me think outside the box and use other words such as "Nevertheless."
3. "Use definite, specific, concrete language"/"Omit needless words" (pg. 37-39). I couldn't agree with this more. I love writing that is short, concise, and compelling all in one.
Here are some examples of "Elements" that I didn't necessarily agree with.
1. "Choose a suitable design and hold to it" (pg. 31). I don't see how this is applicable to every form of writing. Revising and editing can change a design so drastically that I feel it's better to just write and begin picturing designs in your head as you go. Of course, you need a 'main idea' but, as far as the final product goes, it's difficult to assume how an anticipated piece of writing will turn out.
2. I felt Strunk and White could have been more clear on their rule of "Syllibication" (pg. 60). It took me a couple reads to understand what this meant. I couldn't figure out why anyone would want to split a word up, except maybe (maybe) in dialogue. But upon a closer reading, I discovered they were referring to a word that doesn't fit on one line, or trails into the line beneath. Their examples do not refer to this at all, they simply teach to make the break at a syllable.