Three weeks still sounds like a lot of self control, my brain just wants the next one.

Man, I feel you on this one because I went through the same thing and drove myself nuts trying to figure it out. The paper does help push through the stall a bit faster and keeps the bark from getting too soft, but it will never give you that same crust you get with no wrap at all, so you are not crazy for noticing a difference. For me it comes down to how much time I have that day, because both ways can turn out good if you manage the heat right.

My grandpa did the same thing with a space heater cord back in 2003. Told me electrical tape stops all shorts. Melted halfway through winter and nearly caught the rug on fire. He just shrugged and said the tape was old cheap stuff. Refused to buy wire nuts for like five years after that too.