Palm Skills Without A Quarterstaff Please - Or touch spells

As I've just begun working out a Monk build, it's strange to me that palm skills require a quarterstaff to use as you're using an open hand. The unarmed strike does not benefit from the majority of stats from the weapon. So far I'm only seeing + to melee skills work, and I'd imagine other random modifiers that don't have to do with damage like stun.

I was trying to run a sort of hybrid melee spell caster with palm skills. Seeing as the weapon doesn't really matter too much, I was trying to use a scepter to boost spirit. Even if I had to leave an empty hand, it would still be better than holding a quarterstaff and not using the other skills.

Is there a way we can open palm skills up to other weapons, like spells function? Spells can be cast with anything in your hands. Or maybe a wrist spike or at minimum just wielding something in the off hand? I feel like there's an opportunity for touch spells. Just go through Dungeons and Dragons touch spells for unlimited ideas.

When daggers come, I'm going to want that teleporting palm attack and a short blade in the other hand.