You are so right wildhog. If your thinking about going str8's, now is the time. Don't waste any more time with a shavette. There are a lot of different folks who are more than happy to help you get your first razor fairly inexpensively. Try the classified's here for some used, shave ready biginners razors (you know, the 5/8's, round tip, any grind greater than a wedge, etc.). If you are already fixed with a brush, bowl, etc.. you shouldn't have to spend more than 70$ to get a great, shave ready blade.
SRD's Dovo Special is a great start, any roundtip from whippeddog.com comes honed by LarryAndro from here. But the important point is to get a great razor to start with, so you don't have to worry that your face look's like hamburger from the blade, and not your technique :) . Watch the stropping video's provided on here carefully. There's some great examples. If you get your blade from SRD it comes with a Certificate for a free honing when it needs it again. Which is another reason to have more than 1 str8 in your kit. The more sharp razor's you have and use, the less often any of them will need to be honed. Unless you discover a favorite and use that one more than the others.
Stay away from any of the razor's on the 'Bad Razor List' for a new razor. Buy a Dovo, Boker or Theirs-issard if buying new, stay away from China, Pakistani and India junk razors. I bought a few junkers before I discovered this place and bought my first one from SRD.
'nuff ramblin'... Getcha a blade and get started on the learning curve.. There's nothing like the quest for a close shave.
Good luck!!