No, you didn't get a low quality blade. But given the reports on TI quality control I personally would pay more for a second hand one, so that I know the blade is not warped, and the scales are fit properly. Of course in your case 'new' is a must, so your options were fairly limited to start with. You did very well, there are a number of rather inferior quality 'new' razors that would've been just a waste of money. The one you got should be good.
You don't have to send it for honing, but chances are it will not be sharp enough. In my mind there's no doubt that the little extra cost and time is more than worth the assurance that the edge is as good as it can be.
Trust me all this information is important, even if you don't find it too encouraging. It's better to be discouraged by us from shaving with a subpar edge, than be discouraged by the shave itself. Starting the right way is very important, especially since most people experience a fairly steep learning curve.