Straight Razor's single greatest advantage over DE's or modern day disposables?
I start this thread to solicit from this forum what is considered to be the single greatest advantage of a SR over any other shaving method. We have heard the cost savings (realized by few on this forum, even after five years or more) to less irritation. But what is the single greatest advantage? Is it the nostalgia, the manual dexterity, the satisfaction of maintaining the ultimate sharpness? Here are my observations to which you are invited to take exception.
1. The single greatest advantage of the SR over any conventional, modern blade is free angle variation during the shave. This is the ability, especially with the full hollow grind 5/8 inch or wider blades to vary the incidence angle from less than 5 - 35 degrees or more for any location on the face. All commercial DE's and multi-blade disposables utilize a fix angle that is fine for most, but not all areas of the face.
2. The second greatest advantage for the SR over any conventional, modern blade is variable sharpness. There is such a thing as too sharp! If you don't believe me then try a Feather Super and be humbled. The SR allows the experienced user to optimize sharpness for cutting beard stubble without severing surface anomalies.
Yes, there are many other advantages that I could list here; however, for me the variability of angle is the single biggest reason for less irritation, against the grain potential, and smoothness afforded only by a straight.
What are your thoughts?