Do you have to lower the blade every time you stop the machine? In other words, is it ok for the blade to be raised at your desired shave heigth (the blade touching the ice) and start shaving again. I don't beleive this is covered in the manual. Thanks in advance!

You don't have to lower it for every stop. However, I do lower it if the ice been sitting for a while. You will see a little divot.

I would also like to add the "foot pedal" to that, because once you have the correct setting on the blade you desire. You can just trigger it using the pedal rather than turning it on/off manually. I wouldn't go without that in my opinion.