I tried the Three blade but found it did not handle multiple days growth any better than the two blade. If I have occassion to skip a few days shaving, I just use an electric to take down the multiday growth and just do a quick shave after.
I still think the five blade is absurd, I think it is even more absurd that they marketing gurus put a SINGLE blade on the back for detail work.
I think the issue is really one of the quality of the individual blade. Good single or twin blades will always beat out a cheep marketing gimick.
I use a Mach 3, and it handles multi day like a champ... never have to break out the trimmer to shorten it... one or two strokes and smooth as a babies bottom.. the 3 blade does tend to require a bit more rinsing when doing multi-day shaving as the blades are closer together so hair tends to stick more..
But I shave 1 to 2 times a week tops, and at times go longer than that, and the Mach III is a dream.. no single or double blade can match it. I used to do the trim it first then shave thing, because the single and twin blades would just get chewed up by the hair, and dulled quickly... the M3 doesn't... one or two strokes, no pre trimming, no irritation... There is nothing else that can compare.
Just jump out of the shower, lather up, and a few quick strokes and done... no muss no fuss... believe me.. I am not a guy who falls for marketing gimmics.. the M3 is worth its weight in gold.
Now the whole add a vibrator to it, keep adding blades until you have 20... that's just crap.. but no single or twin blade can touch the M3... They sold me by proving it to me... had I never gotten that free sample, I'd still likely be doing what you're doing.