they are not crutches...they are techniques and everyone has their own favorite techniques to use. there should not be any negative (thoughts toward) using tools available and using different techniques...
and paper piecing a crutch??? have you seen some of the paper pieced designs out there???oh my goodness...those types of crutches i could only dream. it allows you to accomplish blocks that would not be possible using basic piecing techniques and takes practice to get beyond a beginner block so paper piecing is anything but a 'crutch'