When the first three-bladed cartridge came out, it really did seem silly. The ones they make now with 5 or 6 blades come across as ludicrous. If that's what you use, it works for you and you enjoy it, more power to you.Announcer: The Triple-Trac. Because you'll believe anything.
DE/Straight is the only way to go. You only need one good edge, not 17 crappy ones. Real shaving soap instead of foam or gel helps quite a bit too.
Hot water, pre-shave oil, soap with a brush, one quick pass if it's been a while, final light pass with a sharp edge to finish.
At $0.07 per edge, and $16 per year in soap makes shaving quite cheap.
YMMV
What brand do you use for the blade?
Double edge throw aways. Ironically, buying the whole razor (handle and blade) as a disposable is frequently cheaper than buying the blade cartridges alone (although perhaps less environmentally friendly). For me, double edge seems better than single, but going up to 3 (or more) blades doesn't seem to add much except for a higher cost.
Ceramic bowl, Shaving soap, Straight Razor. Smooth, no ingrowns, no burn, no lumps or bumps. And I only had to buy 1 blade....ever!