The British use the terms fire or electric fire to mean a fireplace, hearth, wood burning stove, electric fireplace.
It's kind of how Canadians talk about hot water heaters. The rest of the world shakes their head, wondering why anyone would want to buy a water heater to heat hot water.....
Then of course there is the term UN Thaw... which technically means to freeze something. You either thaw something or you freeze it.
Back to the op's thoughts. Do not underestimate the power of peers, advertising and general marketing bs. The masses do not wish to think, they prefer to be told what to do while thinking they have freedom of choice and then complain bitterly that *someone* should do something about whatever it is they have finally discovered is nonsense.
They have been told, and believe, it must be "modern" or it's no good.... and besides, what do OLD people know? They are "past it".
Just look at the environmentally friendly crap we're being told. Do not repair "old things", do not maintain "old things", buy the latest high tech tomfoolery. How a half a dozen electric razors are supposed to be more environmentally friendly than one or two 19th century steel blades, a rock dug out of the ground to hone them on, a strip of hide off an old farm animal that is no longer alive to strop them on, and they will last a hundred years or more again, is beyond me. But.... you will get an argument from most young people that we just don't know what we are talking about.
I don't mean to infer that ALL young people are like that, but far too many appear to be incapable of thinking for themselves and act like sheep.... with someone all to happy to be the shepherd and lead them down the path of financial slaughter.
Regards
Kaptain "Depressed about the future" Zero
Of course, after re-reading the first post, I see the general idea is more about the Shavette razor... a barbers tool, for trimming things like the nape of the neck. It eventually got pressed into use for shaving due to the rise of blood born diseases and our knowledge of them. In all honesty the shavette does not really work well for that purpose, they are cheaply made of flimsy folded steel and use equally flimsy blades. A skilled barber can do wonders with them, but for someone trying to shave himself for the first time with an open blade.... I'd suggest they look elsewhere.
The Feather Artist Club razor is made for shaving and it is an excellent tool. The blades are stiff, sharp and smooth. If a gent does not wish to spend time honing a razor, I think it's a reasonable alternative. Not everyone likes to collect postage stamps, or other such pastimes. Even in days gone by, the average gent would take his razor to the barber for honing... he had no choice, as he had neither the time, nor the money a quality hone would cost. It's this very reason that King Camp Gillette was so successful with his "Safety Razor" and it's replaceable, low cost blades.
I feel the shaving experience with any single blade razor, when done properly, is superior to that of any electric or multi bladed cartridge razor. I have used most of them but once I mastered the traditional safety razor, the Feather Artist Club and last but not least, the traditional straight razor, I would never consider going back. But just because I enjoy it, does not mean that every living and breathing man on this planet must do the same.
And, as the OP mentions, I think for those who are not interested in the whole straight razor thing, a quality safety style razor is probably the best route to take... surely better than dealing with a flimsy shavette type razor.