Overrated: Any expensive Badger brush. Too floppy/soft, make sure the water isn't too hot, expensive, worry that the brand label wears off, Chinese culling ethic issues, have to fight with it to give up the lather. Its the true high maintenance trophy wife of the shaving world.
Never have such worries with $10-20 Boars. They are the blue collar work horses of the shaving world. Not as pretty, but cheap, comfortable and 100% effective. I never fret about if the knot is one day going to start shedding, fall out, brush label wear off, lose it while travelling or if the too hot soaking water will damage the brush.
Overrated: cleaning, polishing, drying, scrubbing, oiling, disinfecting DE safety razors. If its vintage, do it once and then use it the way it was intended. I don't think Grandpa ever got out scrubbing bubbles, Maas polish and a soft bristle cleaning brush every time he did a blade change.
Overrated: Unopened Collector grade NOS. Razors were never intended to be saved in unopened packaging and collected. It was Stamp collecting in the 70's, baseball cards in the 80's, comics/beanie babies in the 90's. Vintage toys in 00's. Razor collecting trends will come and go.
Overrated: Having a varied and wide selection and rotation of 20+ soaps/creams. I prefer to keep stock fresh and current.
UNDERRATED: The 99% of forum members that I have just offended and who have various AD's, enviable shaving gear collection or the well earned means to shower themselves with top notch gear. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!
I belive this man deserves a beer or two.
