Thanks all for advice and comments, really appreciated and some interesting debate...
To be honest I didn't realise I was so set to become a NW 7 - is this an absolute inevitability??? - if so strip definitely won't be the way to go because I would want to buzz down and probably don't have the financial clout to keep chasing the hair loss (work for a charity!)
Maybe the advice saying wait until after meds (hadn't tried finasteride due to fear of side effects) is best -I've been basically trying to hurry it in between work contract but I suppose it's something that shouldn't be hurried..
Would it not be an idea just to get some FUE to maintain some of the hairline / crown which would still look better than nothing when the rest starts to be lost or not at all?