I purchased this razor after some time comparing the reviews on shaving forums of the Edwin Jagger de89bl, various Merkur (mainly the 34c) and the very similar Mühle R89 which uses the same head. The consensus seems to rate the EJ89 as being the best for a beginner, as well as being of excellent build quality.
I am so glad I took the plunge into "old-fashioned" double edged shaving - while it does take a little practise to get the best from it, it is very rewarding to use.
If shaving is a painful or tedious experience, bin the 3, 4, 5 blade cartridge and get one of these.
Warning - don't expect instant perfection- but the learning curve is fun to climb, and there is massive online support for DE (double edge) shavers. Just google for shaving forums. Enjoy!