Gasman made a good point modern mach whatever type cartridges have many blades effectively making one pass 3 to 5+ couple that with a short length and ability to hit your face in every conceivable angle and direction its a system that any moron can get a clean shave without any skill or effort and of course by design for the masses to succeed in a task that used to take skill and or a barbers intervention to get right. So keep in mind the straight razor we all love has many challenges with it. You have to develop skill and an understanding of your beard growth and overcome the obstacles of a large blade that has to get sometimes in impossible places on your face and again hit it in multiple directions, no easy task but fun. Then again there is blade maintenance honing and all that jazz that makes up this hobby and again fun. Straights have the same potential in doing a great job as any other brainless system the difference is us not the tool on how far we achieve a great result. Some people shave to get out the door and some people shave to have fun and enjoy the luxury. I happen to be the latter. So keep at it and have fun.