Very good point, I absolutely agree that a sharp blade is necessary to compare against... unless you have plenty of body hair and a high clotting factor.

I can tell a sharp knife on first pickup, usually on first glance... certainly by watching it in use (anyone can tell a sharp knife by using it). But I'm still not convinced I'll be able to tell if my razors are shave-worthy without testing them on my arm, chest, etc or immediate comparison. That's why I purchased a shave-ready off classifieds. I look forward to developing a feel for a razor edge, but I don't think it will ever be instinctual. And from reading other's who claim to have HAD... the process is this. Shave with what you have, thinking it's the best... buy more stones/pastes/strops and try them out, decide if it's better and if it is, welcome them into the fold and evolve. That's why I certainly can appreciate the popularity of the easy intro (2 shave ready's, $20 strop, 4k/8k, use em till comfortable, then expand). I personally am a very deep end sort of person. I learned computers by disassembling one at age 9, rebuilding it, then building my own from the board up a year later. I was installing networks and replacing caps and resistors on components in my mid-teens for spending money. In all fields that hold my interest, I've met a lot of people who prefer to learn like me, and it does take someone who is stubborn as a mule and curious as a monkey who's owner wears a yellow sombrero.

However there's really a third option, that I see a lot of people taking that I really can't see an upside to.

"Hi, I just bought this $250 razor, this $400 set of stones, this $150 shaving kit, etc, etc... because I heard they were the best... how do I use them?"

That just demonstrates an irresponsibility I can't comprehend. I mean if they do stick with it, yes they're set up like most of the experienced guys probably wish they'd started (knowing what they do now), but more likely they're the ones who'll try shaving, cut themselves... blame the equipment and say "Even with the best, this sucks!" then storm off.

When you work with a trashed out razor (good steel but in need of TLC), repair it into an excellent razor, and in doing so develop the skills to really understand Straight shaving at a depth that would take much more time to develop any other way then put that to your face and build on your understanding of the design of a razor with understanding of the application of a razor, I feel you are going to be more aware in your use of that razor, to notice things that otherwise you'd have to come back and recognize later. But I am just applying my experience in other things to make an assumption here. I'll let you know how my method pans out if anyone is interested. I did actually buy a digital camera to produce before and afters of my first repair job, my first shave (with a shave-ready) and my first shave (with my first repair job).