Question is ?

poll question

For me it was a mixture of 1, 3 and 4.

Not sure about cheaper as I have raging aquisition disorders..!

I had been using a DE for a few months and started reading more about how much better the shaves were on a Straight. I was also intrigued by straights in general though.

The reason i switched from cartridge/electric razors is comfort and to a degree cost.

I very very very rarely get in-grown hairs now and every shave is a good one. No diminishing returns, cartridge blades dull fast and electrics...well they are electrics.

For me it's all but the first choice

Started because of three and four, mostly three.
Sticking with it because of one, three and four.

Cheaper? No way. I've got RAD - and I love it.

3, 1, 4, in that order.

None of the above and some of the above. :)

If I had to pick one thing that first got me interested in straight razors, I would have to say the mystique. The appeal of an old-fashioned technology(similar to what draws me to manual typewriters, old radios, fountain pens, Zippo lighters, and my '77 English Raleigh bike). The satisfaction of using a well-designed, well-made tool. The codgerliness, if you will.

That I will spend less money on better shaves over the long run and be ecologically responsible by not trashing blades--if I ever get this mastered--those are very good things, and not insignificant, but secondary.

~Rich

None of the above. I purchased a straight because I thought the country I was moving to didn't have disposable razors.

Loved them from the first time I saw a photo of one when I was a kid. I do think that I get a better shave with a straight but even if I didn't I would still shave with them. :)

I'd have to say it's all of the above. When I started, it was mainly due to the superior shave and irritation issues. Cost wasn't a big motivator when I started, but now it would be. Cartridges are ridiculously expensive and it seems to me that the only reasonable solutions are DE or Straight. DE blades are ~.10c-.12c per blade. (I haven't purchased blades for a few years now, but that's my recolection. Please correct me if I'm wrong there)

And of course the use of a straight is fun and quite a conversation piece.