I thought the same thing until I tried a Fusion shave (5 blades). It’s better than a Mach 3 for sure.
I’m a big fan of lathering with real shaving soap, no shaving creme from a can for me. Have a nice soap, razor and brush stand I got from Classic Shaving.
I shave in the shower, with a disposable double edge and the same deodorant soap I use on the rest of me. It’s been two decades since I’ve used shaving soap and brush; I can’t see any reason to go back. Anything more is a gimmick, IMO.
I'm using a cheap, two blade gillette something or other (who remembers the generic-type razors that come 10 in a pack?) and I shave in the shower.
The razor I'm using is about 3 or 4 weeks old and still shaves perfecly.
I have a ledge at the top corner of my shower surround and I put a spray deoderant cap up there about 3/4 full of water.
For shaving soap, I use body wash ... the same stuff I use on my body. Slicker'n snot and very economical.
I shave with the shower on, everything goes down the drain.
When finished, I rinse the blade off and shake out (tap on the shower head ) any residual water that may have stray beard cuttings and place it in that cap with the water in it.
The bain of razors is rust, and rust can't happen if steel never really gets a chance to be in the oxygenated air ... so, my cheap, $5 pack of ten blades lasts me about a year and my shave, though not straight razor smooth ... (nothing but a straight razor shaves that smooth), it is smooth and clean ... and cheap.
I agree with the Fusion. I used the Mach 3 for years, but got me a Fusion for free when they first came out. In fact, I have about a dozen free Fusions. I have both manual and electric Fusion.
I find the manual actually gives me a closer shave. But the electric Fusion is a quicker shave. Now after using the Fusion for over a year, I will not go back to the Mach 3. I find the blades last me for many months. The electric blades last even longer.
I like the Fusion too, but it is no good for trimming sideburns. I use an old Shick injector for that. Best shaves I ever had were from a straight razor, but I never learned how to use one on myself.
Every time I tried an electric I had tiny pimples on my neck from the hair being pulled at by the "floating heads.".
I seem to be cursed with a tough beard and tender skin.
Shaving cream from a can gave me a HUGE ingrown hair every other week that would look like I had a jelly bean stuck under my skin until I could dig it out.
Soap and brush gives me no ingrowns, no pimples, no problems. Plus the blade seems to last about 3 times longer.
Yeah I went to a gillete 4-blade from a Mach 3 too. Better pressure control across the skin.