A physical guide helps me piece with more speed and accuracy. I use molefoam which I cut into approximately 1/4" strips. It has an adhesive backing that does not damage current machines (I would not use it on a vintage featherweight, as that type of finish is different). I use my favorite ruler to line it up on the bed of the machine. Lower the needle so it touches just right of the 1/4" line on my ruler, lower the presser foot to hold the ruler in place, check to make sure the ruler is running straight front-to-back, then take the paper off the back of a molefoam strip and butt it up to the edge of the ruler. This gives me a physical barrier for strip piecing that increases both speed and accuracy
I ordered my molefoam from Amazon. You can always find moleskin in the foot section of pharmacies, but molefoam is harder to find in pharmacies. Molefoam is thicker than moleskin. I have used moleskin too, but then I like to layer 2 pieces of it. Easiest way to do that is to first stick one slab of moleskin on top of another slab, then cut into strips. This is easier than trying to align one strip of mokeskin on top of another while at the sewing machine.
For cutting, I would think an electric Accuquilt would be very helpful.