If I had a friend who was curious about str8s, I would have them come over, bring their canned shave snot, show them what stropping is - what's important, what's not. Show how to lather - let them see it done, feel what it's supposed to feel like (if I can ever figure it out), let him feel the difference in the quality of the lather. Then I'd hand them a 1/4 hollow - because of it being much more user friendly. Instruction would be simply to hold at approx 30deg angle, and slowly go from sideburn to jaw muscle with no pressure beyond the weight of the blade. The point being for them to feel for themself that the deadly cutthroat can be a useful, precise tool that gives exquisite result for someone willing to learn. 'Doesn't mean he wouldn't need to fully learn the same technique that a sloppy flexible ultra hollow shaver uses - just that he can get a sense of the enjoyment and quality of shave without as many skills being demanded up front. I think all of the same questions would follow at some point, but they would at least have the sensory experience of it not being some gory, death-defying feat - and that the shave lasted way longer than whatever they've been used to. That experience would be sufficient incentive to withstand all the inevitable tantrums that follow while they learn technique.
Someday I hope to learn technique :)