It's been since August that I used my two adjustables. Based on that month-long experience I learned a couple things about them that resonate... (for me anyway...YMMV).
1 - Don't be in a race just to get to 9.
Spend time getting to know the settings as best as you can.
To best do that, I'd probably try to do one adjustable a month, not two in a month. I mean let's face it...the mantra here is technique, to take a fixed razor and become really familiar with it in a month of shaves. (Sometimes it takes a little less, of course.) But with an adjustable, I'm not sure that I can treat it the same. With 9 adjustable settings, could we argue that it may be the equivalent of multiple razors?
2 - Using different settings with each pass.
I'm like you William, I normally use two passes. For me it's XTG, ATG.
You're right - during my initial trials of adjustables I used what I though was 'conventional wisdom'... being - if you are going to use different settings for each pass, do progressively higher settings with each pass. The next time I experiment with my adjustables I will try the opposite. Use the higher setting on the first pass and a lower setting on the last pass.
My reasoning (is probably hooey, but...) if the higher setting provides a more 'aggressive' shave through blade exposure, what part of our shave is least vulnerable to irritation - a WTG, XTG or ATG? In my mind, the
least vulnerable is the initial pass or passes (WTG, XTG), with the ATG being
most vulnerable. So... the next time I use one, I'll probably start with my first pass WTG (or XTG) on 5 and XTG on 3.
And now that I have everyone ready to pound their keyboard to rebuke this, I said I would "experiment" with this and see if it works for ME or not.
Good luck, I enjoy the drama of it all!

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