Come on, my fellow noobs!
I agree! Even though I've given myself two hefty scars on my left cheek, I'm not going to give up!
Things that are going well for me:
1.) Comfort after the shave is about a million times better than with a modern cartridge razor. There's no painful prickliness the next day. Also, since one blade does what 5 did before, my skin is far less irritated.
2.) I enjoy the ritual that comes with the shaving. It's relaxing and reflective. Usually I turn up the TV in the living room and play one of my favorite shows (Futurama or South Park these days) as background noise, or for an occasional giggle. It's nice to focus my attention on one thing (shaving) and not have to worry about the thousands of stressors in life.
3.) Smoothness after the shave is waaaaay better than with a Fusion. I only need to shave about every 3 days, and if I let it grow out, no need to fret, because a straight will mow it down without trouble (while it seems like cartridge razors refuse to shave any beard that's been growing even a second more than 24 hours).
So, for any fellow newbies reading out there, don't despair! Nothing worthwhile is made or learned in a day. I still have a lot of learning and practice to do, but I know that if I persevere through this difficult first stage of learning, I will be set for life. In terms of shaving, at least.