Is that really a big deal?

Nah, that's not desperate at all, that's just smart. A potato is basically a wet plug that holds until the concrete sets, it's genius. We've used a whole raw onion to pack a gap in a form before it hardened. Sometimes the simple fix right in front of you is the best one. Calling it a kitchen item misses the point, it's just a tool that works.

Totally agree, it's a night and day difference. Once you've had a good bit snap clean through a nail instead of just disintegrating, you never go back to the bargain bin stuff. It's one of those things you don't realize is holding you back until you try the proper tool. The cheap ones just wear out so fast they end up costing more anyway.