Since there are numerous types of papers available, Question 1. what are some fullproof guidelines for choosing the right kind of papers for the type of photography that you do? Question 2. how to eliminate those papers that need not apply.
Assuming of course paper selection is done on a budget, and that you're a million miles away from paper distributor/retailer.
jjp

The answer to your first question depends on if you have tried different papers and after trying, you have to decide, to you, what looks best for the image. There is no correct answer, except that it depends.
As for question 2, the first thing is to figure which inkset(Photo black-PK or Matte black-MK) you are going to use. If you decide to use a PK, you will be able to eliminate most if not all of the 100% cotton or rag papers as these do not work well with PK inks. On the other hand, MK inks do not show good Dmax on papers designed for PK inks.

Those are good suggestions.

I would also recommend starting with a decent but moderately-priced paper and use it for quite a while until you are very familiar with what it will and will not do. For example, if you have an Epson printer and like matte surface prints, use the MK ink with Epson Enhanced Matte (now known as "Ultra Premium Presentation Paper Matte" (ouch!). If you prefer glossy prints, choose a similar glossy or semi-glossy paper and plan to use PK ink.

If you use a Canon or HP printer, start with one of their own papers.

After you feel that you know one paper very well, it is time to search the LL forum for suggestions of other papers to try. Often small sample packs are available. Your own preferences and tastes should be the deciding factor.

On my Epson 2200 printer I use Enhanced Matte for 95% of my printing (and I have used it under glass in several exhibits). Currently my favorite "fancy" papers (for special occasions) are Epson Velvet Fine Art (for a matte surface with MK ink) and Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk (for a glossy paper using PK ink). But YMMV.

I started with Epson Matte paper (EEM, now called something else), and learned how to get the most from my printer with just on paper. I wanted to cut down on the variables.

Then I bought some sample packs from Inkjetart.com. They come with one or two sheets of 8-12 different papers, marked with a label on the back. You can test a lot of very nice, expensive papers that way without buying a whole box. I printed the same image on each paper, and compared them.

(As an aside, it's amazing how bad EEM looks against some of the other matte papers. It's almost yellow in side-by-side comparison.)

I happen to like a lustre finish paper, too, and tested a sample pack of that style. I ended up buying 50 sheets of 17x25-inch paper of the Inkjetart house brand, which is about half the price of Epson lustre, and available in the larger size. (Epson papers come as 17x22.)

So the sample packs worked pretty well for me.