The data on the tracker is quite clear that paper applications are being processed faster. You just need to look at the Decision Made or Oath sections and you'll see that paper applications dominate. People who applied on paper months after online applicants are getting their test invites etc...
In regards to your comment "You chose to apply online", we had no clue that online meant slower processing and a complete lack of any action taken even after 8 months of applying. There is also a document obtained from IRCC that online applications are capped at a very small quota. It's on the forum here (I'll need to dig it out). Trust me, if any of us online applicants knew that paper will be processed so much faster we'd all apply via paper. There was no disclaimer from IRCC stating that and/or transparency that online applications are still in some form of Beta testing stage.
Realistically, a routine application, should be processed in less than 6 months easily, so the aggravation stems from their increased and let's be honest unreasonable time of "27 months average processing time".
I think it is too early to tell. If you look at early 2021 applicants, there appear to be roughly equal number of online applicants who made it to oath as paper applicants. It seems to me, the trend has been - a small percentage paper applicants are processed very quickly, within 10 months, and the other applicants are stalled. It's about that time that some online applicants get to oath (again small percentage), then it more or less moves at the same pace. Overall, I think it shows to be evening out. But only time will tell for sure.
I didn't know about that document you brought up about a small quota for online applicants (please do share should you find it), but it makes sense. When online applications first started, it was random selection only. I don't remember too clearly, but I think you did not get the option to apply online every time you went to the site. It randomly appeared, which I think was their way of controlling the number of online applications. At one point, I think around August 2021, the link became permanent. Then everyone eligible could easily apply online. I saw this as a sign that they are gradually getting more staff onto the online applications.
Now about the choice to apply online and you not knowing it would be slower. True, but it is also true that IRCC never claimed it would be the same speed. I called them and asked, and they told me, they just don't have the data to tell me which one would be faster. They did tell me that AOR for online is taking a long time currently, which I already knew, from these spreadsheets. At one point, (I think around August 2021) AORs for online applicants were 4-5 months behind paper applicants. So to be fair, we had that information here on canadavisa forum. Despite knowing that, I consciously made the decision to apply online, because it was convenient and safer (no chance of losing documents etc). I was also scared that in 2 years from then paper would be completely phased out and people who aren't approved on paper by then, would be left waiting for a very LONG time, as they left a skeleton crew with the paper applications. I went in accepting it is likely going to take longer to get AOR, but with the hope that in the long run in the latter steps it would even out.
At the end of the day, when any new system is introduced, there are always unknowns, and we all made a judgement call and did our best with the information we had at the time. I don't think there is any need to blame IRCC for this.
Now about 27 month timeline, I agree, that is too much... and I hope it will improve.