@beluga... I'm with you!! It literally takes me about 5 shaves with a new Feather SS (professional blade) before I really like the shave. They're literally TOO SHARP in the beginning - and they don't really do any better than my straights for that added knick factor. Shaving with a straight is much more comfortable, but Feathers are great when you can't carry a strop. I think it's the extra length of really thin blade with the feathers that screws me up. Not as easy to "touch down" as with an actual straight.