Quote - The Wacom also has a liftable plastic layer on the surface that will allow putting something to be traced underneath.  .

My Wacom Intuous 2 had a plastic flap, but my Intuous 3 doesn't. 

Even when I had the Intuous 2 that I could put something under, the actual working area was too small (I think it was 3x4) when you compare it to a 17 inch monitor.

The Intuous 3   6x8 that I have now allows you to place paper over the working area and use your pens on the paper.  However there is still that "disconnected" problem of drawing on one surface while what you are doing is appearing somewhere else.

"It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to say." - Ghandi