Using Takes really is soooo much easier when you're recording multiple passes of the same thing in order to choose or comp between them. That's kinda why they're called takes after all. Reaper's way of doing things needs a little getting used to, but it's completely worth it.
If you've got 15 separate tracks, and you want to switch between them on the fly, you have to mute the one and then unmute the other. With takes, you either click the take you want or use the shortcut keys to cycle through. Plus, it takes up a whole lot less real estate. Also, if you've got any plugs (like an amp SIM on a guitar) on the track, they either need to be copied or you have to put all of these "take tracks" in a folder. And then if you actually do want to comp pieces of different takes together... Nope, you're just making things harder on yourself.
One thing that really helps is always recording full takes. Things get fucked up fast when one take starts a little later and another ends a little early and you have all those short little items everywhere. That doesn't happen if you record to a time selection and always go all the way through. Sure wish I could actually follow that advice more often!