Thanks again everyone for the advice!

In case anyone wanted a follow-up status report: I sent my razor in to Lynn, and am eagerly waiting to get it back!.. (hopefully late this week, probably early next). I’ve continued using the shaving brush/soaps even while I use my normal razor just to get some added familiarity, and that is going well. Even without a straight-edge, I can tell the benefit (which admittedly to some extent probably includes the sheer enjoyment from this new ritual). I also got some Dr. Harris shaving soap in addition to the Col Conk I was using. Although I was beginning to get something approaching a decent lather with the Col Conk, the Dr. Harris is significantly easier to use (and the wood bowl it comes in certainly adds some old-world charm). I used my razor a couple more times before sending it in just for the sake of practice and to better appreciate it when it is truly sharp, and simply avoided the mustache/chin areas that it seemed to have exceptional trouble cutting through so that I didn’t butcher my face too badly. Anyway… looking forward to using a straight again, and will report back after I get things down a little better.