I spent my first year or so of DE shaving with a Merkur 34C, and then sold it once I got my iKon safety bar. No regrets on that, but the iKon is not twice (or triple, depending on price) the razor that the 34C is. I think the 30 has the same head, in which case, it probably represents much better value. That said, the iKon provides the option for interchangeable base plates (typically $30-40 each), so although the initial cost is higher, it is possible to get some added versatility with some extra coin. Fair bit of coin though. One thing to note about the iKon is that the brushed steel finish is still fairly succeptible to surface scratches, and is capable of bonding to surface rust from other items. It'll come off, but it's annoying to me that a stainless steel item requires additional care to keep it in good condition. I expected that going stainless might recover a couple of minutes from my shave clean-up, but I spend more time drying and removing the blade from the iKon that I used too with the 34C, in which I almost always left the blade until time to change. Disappointing, but having spent the money, it's now worth it to protect the investment. It's a good, well crafted tool, but it has it's flaws like anything else.
I say this not to discourage you, but to make you aware. A razor is ultimately a tool, and regardless of price, it's going to get dropped or beat up at some point. The iKon won't endure this any better than any other razor, but it is well crafted and effective. Is it good value for money? No. It is, however, a great razor with quirks like any other. Ultimately, if the choice is between an iKon and a Merkur, you're probably going to be happy regardless.
