My own experience (sameple size of one) tells me that the greatest advantage to a classic double edged razor is in learning the technique. You WILL cut your face when you first start with it, but if you persist, you learn the right amount of pressure, the right stroke length for your face, the right angle, how to clean it, etc. The handle on my double edged razor broke, and I couldn't be bothered to replace it (lifetime warranty though). For about 6 months now I've been using cheap double blade dispoasble razors (and only replacing them about once a month) and I'm having a hard time convincing myself to go back. I used to swear by the badger hair brush, nice shaving cream and Merkur blades, but now I just use the hot water in the shower and a cheap plastic razor (that is rarely super sharp because it's usually weeks old) and my shave is just as close. I reckon I could dry shave if required, but the burn would be unbearable.