On the log cabin patterns, is it better to paper piece or just cut the strips and go?

The one I did I pp it. I have trouble sewing straight:)

I would PP a very small log cabin pattern, but not the rest.

There was a time I would say, no way! Then now that I've discovered PPing and the precision it creates, I just might re-think that re Log Cabins, particularly if I was wanting to make very narrow logs.

You can certainly do a good job without PPing ... just be sure to square it up after every strip, and keep all your seams the same width throughout.

I'd do it on a foundation piece before I'd paper piece a LC quilt

I love to make log cabin quilts and, for me, paper piecing them is a huge waste of time and paper. I cut and sew straight with no problem, I chain piece quickly and easily, and I square up the blocks after every round (not after every strip as mentioned above). Try making a block or two each way and see which you prefer.

I really do not like taking the papers out when paper piecing. I love the method for some blocks. But for a log cabin where there are no "points" ... I would starch my fabric prior to cutting ( I use a pretty heavy starch). Then cut my strips. I make log cabins with strips as narrow a 1 1/4 inch . For me it goes much faster than P/P and I can get very accurate using starch( be very generous) and my 1/4 inch foot.
Starch tip- use the Stay - flo concentrate in the blue bottle ( I find it at Walmart in the laundry section) dilute it about 2 parts water to 1 part starch. I dip the fabrics in... let it saturate , use a drying rack for drying. then iron. You will be pleasently surprised at the difference it makes in the final results. This part takes a bit of time ... but soo worth it. Once I have it starched , ironed and cut ... I am off to the races so to speak... It goes so fast then.
I find the accuarcy is so good I have not had to square up till the end and then it was so minimal it was non -existant.

I say just go for it. As long as you square up the finished block, you should be ok.

QB must have added spell-check. I just got a little squiggly red line under the ok. Awesome! :-D :-D

On a small piece I might paper piece but not on a regular size,

I would do it the way that makes you happiest, and gives you the best results :D:D:D