I like to do things in old ways. My work is very high-tech, so maybe it's a reaction to that - many of my hobbies have tended to have a Luddite flavor. It turns a chore into a skill - I actually look forward to shaving. And I've been using a straight razor most of my adult life, so it's not just a passing fad for me.

But mostly I like it because it forces me to pay attention to what I'm doing. (Come to think of it, that applies to most of my hobbies and passions in life. My way of relaxing is to concentrate harder, I guess...) But I think we do too many things on autopilot nowadays. It's nice to have an activity that requires attention from start to finish, with blood and gore as the consequence of letting your mind drift...