I agree too much work plus deep-fried. Here is my method for crunchy baked fries
Made this up years ago when intrigued with potato buds as an ingredient. I still pretty much follow this method:
DOUBLE SPUD WEDGES
3-4 medium potatoes
1 egg
picante sauce
1 C dry potato flakes
1 C shredded Parmesan cheese
2 T cornmeal
1 T garlic powder
1 tsp pepper
1 T thyme
2 tsp paprika or ancho chili powder
salt to taste
Scrub potatoes. Cut each one into wedges lengthwise (make them medium thick). Mix dry ingredients in a food processor and pulse until fine. Mix egg and picante sauce in a bowl then coat potatoes. Then coat with the dry mix. Put on jelly roll pan with parchment, skin side down. Either drizzle with some melted butter or spray with cooking oil. Bake at 375° for 30-50 minutes. You could nuke the potatoes for a minute or two before cutting wedges- sometimes, depending on the potatoes, they take longer to bake.