As a paper scrapbooker, and now doing some things in digital, I understand that paper, and all the supplies can seem overwhelming, but in my case, I think when you like something both can make you spend a lot of money.
I think now that I begin to search for digital elements to improve my pictures and layouts, when you see something at $2.00 and $ 3.99 can be very addicting to begin to just buy and buy, I just began and I already have some good amount of stuff, and I think who does just digital is not different. How much space you have on your HD with tons of kits ?
In my case, yeah papers are pretty but I don't mind to cut them, because if you really love that pattern you can always buy again.
To me, to have hands on relaxes me. I like to feel, the touch of paper project.
And digital elements just made my projects have that bling of a difference I think, not the same boring, same boring pics, and also helped me to scrap faster. I can use a template use tons of pictures, print, stick on a paper, grab some embellishments and voila ! Layout ready !
So, at the end is just personal taste I think.