It's never been much of an issue for me, but I understand your concern.

Mostly because of the "we have always done this" approach.

I agree -- my Standard is currently my favorite as well. Mild and very smooth.

To answer someone else's question about the Standard, yes it is light because it's made from aluminum, but even though it is smooth, I don't find it to be particularly slippery. The matte coating on it seems to add a little more grip. My EJ89 with the smooth handle is more slippery than my Standard.

Last I knew, you could still get the Barber box from Bespoke Post for $45 which includes the Standard Razor. Then after receiving it, just cancel the monthly subscription.

It's mild in the sense that it's smooth and easy to shave with without worrying about irritation, burn or weepers, but despite that it is still very, very efficient and I get as close a shave with it as with anything else I've tried. For me it's pretty much all benefit, no drawback.

It looks like they're not currently offering that box, but I imagine it might come back at some point.

I think Chuck states it perfectly. It's like magic...

Just a quick correction; the Stahly head definitely does NOT cover the blade tabs. I shaved with that head every day since Saturday; blade tabs are definitely exposed.

I'm not certain why some razors do, and others don't, but if I were to guess,
I'd say it's all economics.

Let's say you are approximately the size of Merkur/Dovo, and you are gearing up to make
a batch of 50,000 DE razors. When you get to that scale, the amount of extra metal that
you will use in casting the longer top cap and base is considerable.
Then you have to consider the plating of such top caps and bases.
And then there is the extra time spent in polishing, etc.
It all adds up.

So as long as they aren't being overwhelmed with complaints and the company
focus remains on building razors for the low-middle price point consumer,
they aren't going to go to the expense and trouble.

Tomorrow is a new day, but so far I've not injured myself with any razor
that leaves the blade end tabs exposed.

Please don't correct me when I hold my Stahly, blade installed, and can clearly see AND FEEL that the head cap is long enough to cover the blade's end tabs.

Maybe different years/models have different length head caps. I don't know. I have not held your Stahly to make a comparison.

I thought it was taboo to hold another man's Stahly.

I just realized my Lord L6 is wide enough to cover the whole blade with a bit extra. At about $11 it kind of puts the "it increases price" theory into question.

Only if it has been wound up