Feather or real straight - beginner from London

[Machiavelli]

Hi there all,

Beginner here...

I've been checking out the forum and had a few questions which I hope you won't mind answering.

I'm used to DE shaving (Merkur HD and Merkur Futur) and Gillette Sensor. These are great for a day to day shave, but I would love to switch to straight for my day to day if that is practicable. I flirted with using a straight razor about a decade ago and couldn't really get a good shave without cuts, irritation etc.

However, I am beginning to wonder if at least part of the problem (apart from inexperience) was that I was using a cheap plastic and steel barber's disposable blade straight (i.e. the kind that take half a DE blade slotted into a groove in the blade). I am considering re-starting the experiment to see if I have better luck this time and was wondering:

1. Would a Feather AC be a better bet for a beginner who likes the idea of disposable? I have read some posts around here suggesting the Feather is perfect for ritual suicide but not such a wise bet for a beginner due to the sharpness.

2. Is a proper straight razor more forgiving than a disposable such as the Feather or the one I was using (which had Personna blades snapped in two) for a beginner? I am not concerned about getting an initial ultra smooth shave (that, I am imagining/hoping, will come with time) but I am concerned about shredding my face.

3. If so, could anyone recommend a good razor/strop set for the incompetent beginner (bearing in mind I am in London)? Budget is not really an issue. I have access to places like Jermyn St and the better known barber's shops such as Trumper, and there are quite a few places that sell straights in London, but (a) I have no idea which is a good beginner's blade/set and (b) you may be able to suggest somewhere online/community based which is preferable/more reliable.

Any advice gratefully received!