My family tradition says that a bit of skin and/or blood -- preferably, but not necessarily Jewish -- is what makes potato pancakes really, really good (and we use safety graters! You really gotta work to get blood with a safety grater). Not sure if it works for soup, though....

My sister is a bit squeamish - I don't think she shares your family's taste. :)

I may be reduced to a safety grater and grating the peels off potatoes. A potato peeler is just awkward (and I'm assuming it's awkward for the right-handed as well).