Hello, and welcome, Todd.

  1. I get an 8 o'clock shadow with a straight, as opposed to a 5 o'clock one with a DE, and an instant one with anything else. Took me a while to get there, but it works for me.
  2. That is not acne, it is contact (allergic) dermatitis. Can be anything from an allergic reaction to ingredients of your shaving products to the inferior quality of the blades. I can manage with a DE, but I do not get it at all with a straight. Funnily enough, that was the one part of straight shaving which worked for me right from the outset, and which kept my trying until I had mastered the basic skills.
  3. Dovo Merkur make nice razors, but there is a new kid in town, made by a Stuttgart company called Pils. It is the only DE I would still consider buying, despite the somewhat eccentric price. I tried it, and it is worth every ¢.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Regards,
Robin