It is, but Pepakura which I mentioned above works out the folds and cuts. Any development of 3D models with facets or low count polygons with paper can be done

It is, but Pepakura which I mentioned above works out the folds and cuts. Any development of 3D models with facets or low count polygons with paper can be done granted with lots of time. It gets interesting when you work in something with some thickness and stiffness, and you want curvature and not facets. I was tweaking 'unfolding' or 'developing' panels from Rhino models for my kayaks as mentioned in a reply up in this thread. The kayaks were made of 4mm Okume plywood and needed to have curved surfaces. The payoff was watching the 3D surface take shape as you "stiched and glued the seams of the 2D panels.