Yeah, I guess what I was trying to get across was that beard prep, at least for me, is more important than the lather/gel/shaving cream itself.

Beard prep, 90% of problem, which lather to use, 10% of the problem.

Time to shave?

Beard prep, 30%, lather prep 30%, shave time, 40%.

Something had to give.

I haven't noticed that the gel was any worse than the lather. They all worked fine. I just decided I didn't like the extra time. I tried some regular gilette shaving cream (not the gel), and its working just fine, as well as the old barbasol travel kit I have, as long as th ebeard is good and wet and full of moisture...