Good thread!
My very first straight shave is still very fresh in my mind... fresh enough to make me feel a little embarrassed because I did exactly that: blamed the razor. A month spent with a Kai SE, and my first vintage honed by a pro.. completely different beasts, I really did not think that my straight was sharp. I didn't blame anything, though, I asked if it could be... and of course, like every n00b, I learned that it really was sharp. Doesn't make me a dummy, nor show that I'm no good with tools (Lord knows that ain't true) but it does have it's own learning curve, just like every tool you've never used before.

My thought is that a little humility goes a long ways; ask before accusing.