Many washing machines actually do eat socks, as some may discover when the machine needs to be repaired. When the machine is opened you find it clogged with old, moldy socks.
Sock locks are plastic discs (about the size of a quarter)in which the dirty socks are inserted. They go through the washing machine/dryer that way and you can either put them in the drawer with the sock locks on (take them out before wearing!) or roll them into pairs if it is important to you. But there is no rummaging for pairs this way. They come in different colors so you can use a different color lock for each family member to make it even easier to sort.
Still doesn’t solve the hole problem. It’s time to recognize that every sock is a sock in its own right and doesn’t need another sock of the same kind to be worn.