I also prefer the titanium blades and think they last quite a bit longer than the others. Have you signed up to get Joann's coupons through the mail? You can also get one coupon per week texted to your phone. I buy the blades every time I get a coupon or they go on 40-50% off sale...well, not every time...but I sure have a lot of spare blades in that drawer!
I was teaching a friend to rotary cut this afternoon, with a slightly dull blade - not terrible, but skipping a bit. Made me a bit nervous, but she being a cool, calm, internationally known health physicist had no trouble. She didn't want any help making the pillow cover, either - needed to think about it "her own way" and did a great job! I'm slowly dragging her to the quilt side...