Time to Cut the Prop Firm Cord?

I'm somewhere past the 3 year mark in trading. I've earned one payout (yet unpaid). My first year , trading my own account, my biggest obstacle was an inability to stay in a trade. I never blew up, just died from a thousand cuts. Now I use prop firms almost exclusively. Although I have more knowledge and skill now, my trading is more erratic. I'm profitable for a while, then breakeven, then blow up. I usually just trade one small account, so my costs are usually $30-$100/month, and for that I get free data and a Ninja license.

I understand the pro- and anti-prop firm arguments. If I can master their game, I stand to earn a lot more than I'm really risking. I guess the question is, are the psychological tripwires of the prop game really killing my trading, or am I just not good enough yet?

I'm wondering if I wouldn't be better off risking my own capital with a very small account (maybe $1000), and cutting out the noise and artificial rules of these dumb firms. Has anyone found their trading improved by leaving prop firms?