Shaving, Wet shave vs electric

I've got to be honest - I am tempted by the idea of a safety razor, but get the feeling it's just the utilitarian/anti-modern/romantic/hipster side of me coming through.

I've used Mach 3 since I was 15, and have bought cheap blades from eBay for years, which end up lasting longer because I take care to prep my skin in the shower to soften the hairs, but to be honest it's never been as close a shave as I'd like - even though I always shave against the grain.

So just how much closer is a safety razor? I'm half way to buying one, but need that last bit of persuasion...

Against the grain! That is folical heresy!

A fresh mach 3 shaves incredibly close, god knows why youd need to use it against the grain too.

I do not think you will like using either a safety razor or cut throat at all. It is more of a raw experience, takes delicate patience and is very tactile. You have to be willing to enjoy the scraping razor. You will only get a good result with skill/care & enough time.