DH did road, sewer, and storm sewer construction for 25+ years. He has used all kinds of soil stabilization fabrics over the years. He says that they would be very hard on your needles. He says that the first cut w/a utility knife will dull the knife.
I think the type of sewer cloth your DH is referring to is very tough, more like a tarp. This product is extremely light weight and very flexible...can wad it up in your hand like a dryer sheet! I use it for machine embroidery all the time, light weight stabilizer and very affordable. Unless it is on a special or discontinued, never found a $5 roll, but usually less than $12. Most home improvement stores carry it (garden dept) it comes in white and in black. The roll is huge and so I feel like I can experiment with it. Hot iron will melt it! Have done some applique with it...shapes on baby blankets, etc. and it works very well for that as well. I can see that it would work for strip quilting and paper piecing as long as you didn't press with hot iron. Does not add extra weight into the final product. Worth the money IMHO for a product to keep on hand for when it is useable.