Musings of a Recent Straight Razor Shaver

Lurked here a bit. Read the Wiki. Didn't pay enough attention.
It all started from several years and complaining about the cost of cartridges for the Mach (insert newest number here). I tend (tended) to go through several cartridges a year as I shave my head as well. Then, while in Tombstone for Helldorado Days, I see a straight razor in a shop. I didn’t buy it, but it got me thinking.
A few weeks later at a tobacconists, I noticed for the first time a small shaving section. Safety razor? Dad had one. Maybe that would be the way to go. More contemplation and thinking and one day in a fit of hysteria, I purchased a Merkur Classic 1904 open-comb and a pack of blades. Now what? I had always shaved blind with no shaving cream (no mirror in the shower). I guess I like to live on the edge.
Hmmmm. Hit the forums. Guess I need a brush and some soap.
Wally World had a boar bristle brush and some shave soap for $7. There. Good to go. Some lousy lather later, and in front of the mirror, I spent a good hour and only nicked myself a dozen time. After an infusion of plasma from the local emergency room. I was back on the forums. I guess there is no need to “push” hard on the DE razor. A week later and was not getting any nicks or cuts, even with the lousy lather.
Buy Tweezerman badger brush with expectations of great lather.
Well, that wasn’t so hard and my shaves are much better than with the Mach thingy. A few more days and I come to realize “I have to buy razor blades for this thing! I want independence! $1.75 for 10 DE blades! I’m I crazy? I need a straight!” Yes. To avoid having to shell out the big bucks on those DE blades, I hit the forum again.
Wiki… Wiki… Read it all. Fromm no good? Whatever. I’ll find out for myself as they are not that expensive. Order Fromm and in a fit, order 5 old straights from e-bay.
Fromm… No good. Read Wiki again with more humility.
Purchase a Col. Ichibod Conk #506 6/8 straight from the tobacconist. States made in West Germany on the box. It was the only one he had, and I guess he has had it for a while. Seemed sharp.
Back in front of the mirror with that lousy lather. Worst shave ever. Go back and concentrate while reading Wiki and a big helping of crow.
Shave ready? Sure. Order all three Spyderco bench stones, all Dovo pastes, some chromium oxide, buy a latigo strop, make my own leather strop, make a four sided paddle strop, and order a Dovo 5/8 from Straight Razor Designs that is to come shave ready.
Grab Fromm and start removing metal. Grab Col. Conk and start removing metal. Slice my home made leather strop by stropping incorrectly. Back to Wiki for another helping of crow. Learn to strop.
Shave with Dovo. Good shave despite lousy lather. Buy several different soaps and a best badger brush. Still lousy lather. Read Wiki again.
I AM NOT BUYING A WATER SOFTENER!!! This is insane. However, I got some of my best shaves this last weekend with my self honed Col. Conk and Dovo from Straight Razor Designs.
The DE is now reserved for doing the back of my head, as I don’t trust myself to use the straights where I can’t see. Not yet anyway.
I just keep thinking about all the money I’m saving not by not buying those Mach cartridges. I might even be saving enough to buy some Japanese water hones.