the problem with the paper or cotton trick is they add in my opinion a very nasty and un-needed flavor to the party.. Even if you burn it off 100% and blow the ash off i still feel that building my carbon layer with
juice is adding at leased a caramelized layer of carbon from buying sugar off
juice.. The burnt paper just didn't work for me and as you say i had a 4 second hotspot issue.. Id rather for me anyway just spend the few seconds fixing it .. but then again its all relative.. Id never say how you do is is wrong.. What ever way works for you is the right way to do it.