Red River and Hawk Mountain sell sample packs at a reasonable price.  There are even variables in which sample pack you can order.  Hawk gives (used to) a discount with your first order after that that almost covers the samples.  I also bought a small sample book from them of the papers.

I really don't believe any one, two--or maybe three--papers are the nuts for everything.  Even B&W printers like Clayton Jones and Paul Roark use three or four papers depending on scene effect.

Even with color, I usually use a warmer paper for portraits and the colder ones for art or scenics.