IMO, straight use died off because of convenience and laziness. Imagine not enjoying shaving. And suddenly, you no longer have to strop or hone your razor. And you have a razor that offer protection from nicks and cuts. We are a lazy society. I sell cars for a living. We offer a minivan that has 5 doors. 3 of those doors open with the push of a button. When we are too lazy to open a door, why bother with shaving with a straight razor?

RT