dinosilone, it's good to hear from an "old timer" who did it their way for many many years. I say good on ya, and if it ain't broke then don't fix it, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Unless you get that desire to try out the new toys and tricks like the rest of us .

And I shouldn't be surprised that when an honest post like this comes along that the first reactions are usually defensiveness and justification (of one's own habits). I think most of us realize that this is more than just shaving (at SRP at least), so no one should have to give an excuse why they spend so much on creams or strops or razors. But there's nothing wrong if a guy wants to take a minimalist approach as well.

Quote Originally Posted by shooter1 View Post
SRP caters to both the hobbyist and also welcomes, encourages and supports the new str8 shavers.

The hobbyist / enthusiast however, wants to go beyond the basics. And many (if not most) of the post on this forum are in the hobbyist / enthusiast realm, and beyond what should be considered “the basics”. It is true that many in this area have a tendency to promote their method / technique as superior, that is human nature I suppose.

The hobbyist / enthusiast wants to take their “sport” to the next level.
I do agree with the above, but this is the same as any hobby: there's always going to be someone with better toys, more razors, better soaps, better in general...... and it does seem to breed a certain amount of competitiveness for some people. Just ask around to see if anyone here has only one razor and soap....