well just when i was getting really frustrated with trying to get a good shave with my straight, i realized that hey it is getting smoother than the first time i tried (not SMOOTH smooth but smoother). and to add to the greatness a friend of mine back home sent me a merkur DE so i now can use that to touch up the not so good straight shave, that is improving. now something creative to do with that foolish mach 3 thing that they call a razor?
also i have noticed that after i clean up with the DE it seems to stay smooth for much longer than it ever did with the mach 3, maybe im just imagining it but im not sure.