I use blue paper towels all the time so I am very familiar with them. But....there is no way they work as well as a cotton fabric (like an old t-shirt or gym sock) when cleaning a bore. Cotton holds oil/solvent better, and gives a more thorough 'wipe' as it is softer and more conformable. They are less likely to leave fragments behind. The main benefit to blue towels is they are readily available and consistent.

Another place blue towels fall flat as compared to well-washed cotton is internal engine work (or gearbox work) for the same reasons.