If they still make abranet the way they used to, then you're not using cloth backed, it's a steel mesh.
Cloth (or steel) backed abrasives are generally better than paper if wet sanding or using with liquid finishes etc. but for many sanding applications, it doesn't matter too much what the backing is, it's how you use it and what the abrasive is made from. Aluminium oxide is usually used although there are other abrasives including ceramic and diamond for tricky jobs.
Having said that, not all cloth backed abrasives are of the same quality and there are a number of different weights which affect the stiffness of the backing. Most turners use J weight but no doubt the next person to reply will say they use a different weight! ;-) Likewise with paper - they are not all the same so find an abrasive that achieves the results you want.