Luckily i've never been prone to AD's so i think i'm pretty well done buying stuff now that i have a full shaving kit.
Quoted for posterity.
Thanks for an enjoyable read and as another gent said, this is how many of our stories go. For my part, though, shaving was never a joy. Ever. I suffered irritation and ingrown hairs. I tried countless types of canned good. I shaved in the shower, or immediately after. I finally settled on Mach 3 carts and a combination of Gillette Sensitive Skin mixed with Gillette Edge Sensitive Gel. Still...no bueno.
Then my girlfriend (now The Wife, AKA SWMBO) mentioned that I should try shaving with a brush and soap. By the time she got me some goods for Christmas, I had already acquired two vintage Gillettes from a local antique store for the princely sum of $10 (for the pair!) and fallen in love with this style of shaving.
I now enjoy a few different razors, a couple of go-to blades, a few brushes and a plethora of soaps and aftershaves. Every morning is an adventure, trying to get my best shave and enjoying the experience far more than in days past. Welcome!