I am in the same boat as you. I have tried and tried for a month already to get honing down pat, and nothing seems to work. My advice is to get your shaving down pat first then get yourself a mentor, someone who can show you what youre doing right and what you're doing wrong. I just got one and I'm meeting him on Sunday. Keep studying the forum in the meantime. I know I should practice what I preach but this is the best advice I can give you! I too thought that it was going to be a cheap way out but its not- not at first anyway. As far as the wife goes you're just going to have to start hiding stuff from her like I do! Lol