Right now, I am making a paper pieced border for my quilt. The border I chose, would have been near impossible to piece with any accuracy, without the paper piecing. But I have never used paper or muslin when I make string blocks. I just don't seem to have any problems with them. If you go to Quilterscache, many of the blocks give you the option of either traditional piecing or paper piecing.
Why don't you try one block using paper piecing and one without. See which technique gives you the look that you are trying to achieve and which one is easier to do.