marnissa,
For the most part I still use templates and scissors-I love the sound of the scissors closing; it's a sound that takes me back to my mom sewing. I also shake a lot so I'm kind of intimidated with the rotary cutter, I don't have as much control and I'm afraid I might cut off something vital.
I have a four " by 12" ruler that I like but mostly I use the June Taylor Get Squared rulters to square the blocks up when they're finished. I have a 12", 8" and 6" ones.
Good luck wading through all of the products to find the ones that work for you. I bought my rulers at Joann with coupons because the cost was a factor to me, so I get one at a time.