What pattern are you doing? Are you hand piecing or machine piecing? If you are hand piecing I don't see why you can't just mark your 1/4 inch and go for it. If you plan on machine piecing, I can't see how you would use the paper foundation anyway.
English Paper Piecing is just one way of sewing your hexagons together, it is a nice portable project to take with you, however if you prefer to just hand piece them, just starch the fabric well and handle them gently and you will be fine.