I've never been confident enough to use good watercolour paper - what a mistake! it's worth the outlay, I've discovered. This paper helps you achieve better watercolour effects. It's rugged enough to allow some reworking, and takes plenty of water without buckling. No pilling, and the block format (which made me rather nervous!) means there's no need for soaking or taping or any of that faffing about. Saving my cheap paper for colour testing and experimentation, and sticking with the good stuff from now on.