Well I bit the bullet and tried it. I have to say, I think with more practice, I will be able to sew curves without pinning.
I did my experimental drunkard's path cutting on the cougar (the template to chipboard). My template wasn't accurate, I do have to go back and resize I will bet. However, it was pretty close, and I feel had I been working with a correct template for cutting, and understood better what I was doing with the sewing, I think my first results would have been even better. For me, I had to lighten up on the presser foot pressure for the curvemaster foot to work properly. In addition, I think for straight piecing, it is not bad, as it has a natural stopper on the right to act as a guide for straight piecing.
Attaching scan of first curve sewing. I do had to go back and square up, but insofar as the matching halves of the circle, that I did not touch up and that is right out of the sewing machine, sewn with the curvemaster foot and no pins, by a totally complete newbie!
Pat