I know this is a late reply, but the Merkur Vision is probably the worst DE for a newbie to learn with. The best DE for a beginner, in my honest opinion is a Parker.
I've heard that cant be good - get a nice gillette super speed to pop your cherry. They are all around very good.
I wouldn't worry. All a razor is really is a handle. I like the old Gillettes more than the Merkurs, but I suspect the difference is marginal. The things that really matter are using a good blade (I've found Feather much better than Merkurs, and the Israeli Personnas seem to have a lot of fans) and putting hot lather on a pre-softened beard. Put some decent shaving cream in a pre-heated mug, ideally popped into a pan of very hot water, and wash your face with nice hot water and a good soap before hand. Use your shaving brush in little circles rather than painting in big strokes, and never, never NEVER put any pressure on the blade.
Try a bunch of different blades. It honestly took my skin about 7-10 DE shaves to settle down and not break out. It was only the fantastic smells of the shaving creams that kept me going. Relax. Don't rush/be patient. Find the best blade. I was only shaving twice with a blade before throwing it out till I found something I liked. That's a heavy razor, and it's weight alone is going to make it a bit more aggressive... You're on the right path with the prep... Good luck. These razors last forever. You're going to have to list it in your will...