Your quilt is going to be beautiful. The more I have paper pieced, the more I know to leave the paper removal to the very last. (I know the words too.) One method I have used to help me decide about the design is to lay it out on the floor, stand on a chair and shoot down with a digital camera. Shoot all your choices. Then load the pics in your computer and the answer usually is pretty clear.
The other tip fpr PP is that I use blank newsprint like they use in primary school. I bought a big pad of it at Staples for a fraction of what it costs in a quilt store, and I can't tell the difference. I just put it on my cutting board and use an old "paper cutting" blade in my rotary and cut it to 81/2 x 11 to fit in my printer.