Oh cool dude. Shavettes are like so modern, so chic, so techno, so rad. That traditional stuff is like so boarish, so barbaric. Like no one wants all that grandpa stuff.
Except those of us who do! The problem with shavettes is they are not straight razors. They are the antithesis of what the history and tradition of straight razor shaving is about.
IMO.
Except those of us who do!
Feather razors to me are harsher feeling. Honestly I think the require a little more skill to prevent nicks.
Now having said that they do have distinct advantages and disadvantages.
A disadvantage is cost. While you will probably pay less initially, the replacement blade cost will add up over time.
A decent (not great) SR can be purchased shave ready for as little as $50, maybe less. If cared for that one blade will last you a lifetime.
I have some ugly razors I picked up in antique shops for $8 that just needed honing and have turned out to be great shavers. I have also spent over $1000 for a single SR.
My super expensive razors do shave very well, but are not necessarily better shavers than a good old Wade and Butcher, or Thiers Issard.
The advantage of a Feather is that you really can't break it. if you drop your feather, and the blade chips you just put a new one in. If you drop a 200 year old Wade Butcher for Barbers use only and chip the blade you will probably cry, you will make half of the members here cry, and the rest will experience a sudden severe wave of nausea followed by 3 days of mourning.
My thoughts on Shavettes or replaceable blade razors is that they develop the same skill set as a regular SR, they won't break the bank short term, and they won't break your heart if you damage the edge. Learn with a razor that you are comfortable with, and make your mistakes with a razor that won't cause you heartache if you do some damage. When you are comfortable with a shavette, I recommend looking at a nice (reasonably priced) vintage or a new Thiers Issard. TI's rust easily if you neglect them, but they also give the smoothest shave of all the "new" SRs on the market.