I think the cost of disposable razors and the thing about throwing them away(I'm a packrat) started me thinking about it. For years I wanted to shave with a straight razor, I didn't tell anybody. I finally bought some "bargain brand" triple edge replacement blades and it pushed me over the edge. Those cursed Kroger blades would shave me once. The second time they would just go all over the hair but cut nothing. I found this forum and a few others and started reading. A month or so later and here I am. My shaving skill sucks, but I like learning a new skill. I'll give it 6 months to a year to improve and I have no doubt it will.
A buddy of mine was asking me if those strops really sharpened anything. I showed him how they worked and he got all upset. "You're pulling that razor toward yourself on half those strokes!" He thinks I'm going to freakin' die stropping the razor! LOL my stropping isn't the best, but I don't think it's life threatening. Kinda funny watching this huge(6'4", 260..not fat) bald black guy having a panic attack because "that razor is coming within six inches of your body!"