WRT item #1, near the very start of straight razor shaving I had the bathroom door open and SWMBO made an unexpected and loud appearance in the doorway. Startled me but I did not turn my head to the unexpected distraction with the razor mid tentative stroke on my face. Words were had and the door remained closed from then on till I became more comfortable with using the straight.

Seems she was used to seeing her grandfather shaving with a straight in the kitchen when she was young amid the usual goings on in a kitchen in the morning. The light came on when I told her to give me near a half century of shaving with a straight to get to that comfort level.

I don't think the idea of isolating yourself from distractions at the beginning stages should be under estimated.

Bob