I'm going to have to disagree with this. I prefer to flip start my engines. It's actually better for the engine in some ways. If you are getting cut then you should have a chicken stick to start it with. You can buy them from Tower, but you can make one just as easily. I made mine out of some 1" dowel I had laying around and wrapped black tape around it. When the tape starts getting cut up I cut it off and put some more on it.

As far as engine damage. A lot of people like to hit it with the starter and turn it over until it fires. You need to realize that these engines get their lubrication from the fuel. If you are turning it over without fuel in the motor it is turning with metal to metal contact with no lube. Once you get the hang of priming your motor it will flip start pretty easily.

That's my 02¢ worth.