Switching to Paper Filters. Worth It?

Recently I bought a five-cup Kenmore drip brewer (model 80509) to replace a classic ten-cup Nikko brewer I would been using for a couple of months already. Although this particular model does come with a plastic mesh filter, I decided to use paper filters. For example, they are easier to clean. I simply get rid of the paper filter and wash just the carafe and the filter basket itself.

However, there seems to be a disadvantage, and that is my brew now usually lighter and less bitter. I favor my coffee bitter. I often drink it black or just with one sugar.

Brewing with a paper filter produces clear, light-bodied coffee, which is free from sediments, but lacking in several of coffee's oils and essences, which are trapped into the paper filter.

I found an interesting discussion over at the coffee forum, that has been mostly about how precisely paper filters did produce less bitter coffee. However, if you're a tree hugger, then I think you would rather lessen your carbon footprint and choose the plastic filter instead of the disposable paper ones.

Frankly, I really do want my coffee strong, as a case of preference and often a necessity (i must put in long hours during the night writing and managing blogs). With my old brewer, I had found steps to make that perfect brew (right number of coffee grinds, right model of coffee, the right quantity of water). But at this time I'm still experimenting.