Cartridge razors do a great job, though they are also sort of reinvented the wheel, given that the single-blade shave razor was achieving smooth results for nearly a century before the cartridge came along. But there’s a reason cartridges are so popular—and almost certainly what you learned to shave with. They’ve got a terrific and easy-to-learn design and feel a lot less dangerous. They’ve become increasingly inexpensive to replace (unless you use Gillette cartridges) and receive by mail.
But there are two big reasons to shave with a safety razor. The first is price: you can score a year’s worth of safety blades for like $10. The second is comfort, especially for guys who are prone to ingrown hairs. And it’s hard to beat a better shave for less money.
I’d agree that straight razors take quite a learning curve, but a mild safety razor, like a Merkur 34C, is really pretty easy to get going with. Finding the right brush and shaving soap can also take a bit of experimenting, but one can use a safety razor with canned chemical goo (tinned gels) while you become accustomed to it.
See https://www.gq.com/story/how-to-safety-razor
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