[4x5-Guy]

From what I remember, paper tape was a slower input device, while cards could be read much faster. To make a change, you had to repunch the whole tape, while for cards you could just punch one card.

Plus punch cards were much nicer to write notes on, and stick in your pocket... :)

[daly]

On the other hand you could hand-punch paper tape with a little plastic thing, one hole at a time. That way you could "patch" a paper tape. I used to have tapes with patches on patches (overwrite memory with each patch). Eventually I had to "memory dump" new tape that "merged all the patches" to get a new "master tape"

good times.

[hilbert42]

...And for bookmarks they're par excellence (I've still about a 2-inch stack of new ones specifically for that purpose).

[cafard]

Punch cards were also easier for bad typists to correct: put another one behind it, copy up to the last good column, resume typing. Teletypes for paper tape were harder for me to use.