Yeah, potatoes are not nearly as good a crop as tomatoes, peppers, beans, etc. for replacing expensive or sub-standard vegetables. Potatoes are easily cultivated in large areas and produce a lot for little effort. Other root crops and corn are similar. Tomatoes are about the opposite end of the spectrum, needing a lot of care per plant to produce less "calories". Oddly, potatoes and tomatoes are quite closely related. Some people have even grafted tomatoes onto a potato to try to get both from one plant (nice novelty, but not for maximizing yield).
Potatoes love mulch and can emerge through thick mulch that will keep all the competing weeds at bay. Start saving mulch now for next year. Leaves are great for mulching potatoes, so if you can manage a big pile this fall, keep them from blowing away and you are all set for next year.