I have to say that I find this thread fairly interesting. I remember my Dad using the old shaving soap in a mug and shaving when I was a young boy. Then he switched to a cartridge razor sometime in the early 80s though I do not know why. I always assumed that a cartridge razor was better since it was what everyone used and advertised. Didn't even think about alternatives until this thread. Granted, I have a very sparse beard, i.e. I shave once every 4-5 days so it probably doesn't make sense for me to get one, so I never took shaving that importantly. However, I still find this thread interesting as a safety razor speaks of much higher quality and I am a big proponent of quality if the cost difference pays for itself in a reasonable time.