I think the "eating paper towels" problem occurs when they just leave the prey ON the paper towels. Then I could see how the paper towels might get stuck to the rat/mouse and the snake ingests it that way. But I used to feed my BP on paper towels all the time, never had a problem.

I tried to feed my boa on them for a little while, but it a) didn't even matter because she usually ended up dragging it somewhere else and b) I didn't like trying to get them OUT of the tank after she was done.