So in contrast to other .84 Game Changer owners, I am in the unusual position of having this as my first ever DE razor. As such, I cannot compare it to other DE razors I have used (since this is my only one so far), however I can comment on the GC from the perspective of a beginner.
Why did I pick the GC? I know the usual advice for beginners is to start with something like a 34C or a DE89/R89 and then move on to something better, but I wanted a razor not made of zamak which is more efficient for my coarse dense beard that can also tackle 48hrs of stubble as I shave every other day. I'm happy to pay extra to get a more efficient razor made with better materials to get the best bang for my buck, and from what I have read online, at present the Razorock .84 GC represents this; i.e. at its current price point ($55USD), there is no other comparably efficient DE razor made from CNC-machined 316 SS with its tight tolerances.
With the context established, I can say I am enjoying learning to DE shave with this razor. With an Astra SP and a shallow-to-neutral blade angle, it glides smoothly across my face and mows down 48hrs of growth to a near-BBS finish in 3 passes. Yes, I am making another rookie error of trying to chase the BBS sometimes, but I only try to do so within 3 passes plus a bit of touch up/buffing, i.e. not overdoing it.
Does it punish poor beginner habits (e.g. using pressure, or being inattentive to blade angle, both consequences of years of cartridge use) with the occasional weeper or two? Yes, and perhaps it is more punishing of poor technique than milder razors, but it does so without giving me razor burn or irritation. I attribute this to firstly my tough, non-sensitive skin and secondly the negative blade exposure that the .84 GC has.
The large blade gap also allows for a wider range of usable blade angles. In combination with the negative blade exposure, this has in my (albeit limited) experience made the RR GC. 84 a smooth, pleasurable beginner's razor to use that is decently efficient but also provides a steep enough learning curve to help improve a beginner's technique without being too harsh a taskmaster. Although the blade is loaded on the baseplate rather than the cap, the blade loading is easy and blades align perfectly, and at my experience level, it is good to just pop the blade on and have it align accurately without having to fiddle with another variable.
I am finding that the BBS (on the shaves I do achieve it) is lasting ~6 hrs before I can feel stubble, but I am certain that the more I improve my technique, the better the results will be.
Not sure if RR ran out of boxes but my 0.84 arrived in a nice genuine leather RR branded pouch.
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As did mine, perhaps it was included as a little extra for the international shipping
