I, for one, have problems using the skew. But as I think about it when you're doing a shear cut at about 45 degrees with a fingernail gouge it would seem you're duplicating the attitude of a skew which could explain why that cut does such a smooth finish job.
It's just that any skew I use has a mind of its own sometimes - most times as I'm nearing the finished form (redesign opportunity as in from a chicken egg to finally a hummingbird egg). I'd say that's because on a gouge there's no corner to grab and sail.
But the scraper with frequent touches of a stone to keep a burr does a great final touch up before sanding on a lot of jobs. And I forget where I read it but shaping with a disc sander while the piece is turning is an excellent way around spalted tearout problems.
Probably I should just grab some firewood and keep skewing around - Mac :) - until I learn how.
TomNie