I have really, really sensitive skin so shaving (wet or electric) absolutely obliterates it and often leaves me with a rash (especially on the bottom of my jaw / top of my neck (even though I don't shave my neck!) that can get really irritating, and this is regardless of the soap-free / sensitive (and expensive!) stuff I smear all over my face before and / or after the event.
I don't despise shaving, but I despise the effect it has on my skin. If I electric shave it leaves me with a rash and doesn't remove all of the growth as it's very fine. If I wet shave every day, my skin gets very bumpy, sore and bleeds everywhere. At the moment I (wet) shave once a week but I can handle twice if I have an interview or somewhere else I need to look nice. I much prefer me all clean shaven, it feels like "me" but it just doesn't happen that often.
Have you tried Ultra Shave? It's used to be about £15 a bottle but you can get multiple bottles on ebay for v cheap. It's my current shaving cream/after shave balm of choice.
A few years ago 'Tomorrow's World' asked people for ideas of inventions they would like to see in the future.
My idea - which was read out - was for some kind of depilliation cream, similar to the stuff women use on their legs, to be produced strong enough to tackle beard stubble but not in a skin damaging way.