I obviously wasn't at the event but based on the picture I would agree with Rug. The concept of background stories is fantastic but plastic pieces of cut out paper on the gaming table isn't. Aside from the fact that nobody will take the time to read it all, the paper spoils the visual illustion of great models on great terrain.
Back in the WFB/40k GT circuit (2000-2005) I had my army on a display base and then took photos of each units on the display base in their appropriate position. Those photos then went into the "army booklet" which included the army list (easy to read single page) followed by a photo of the whole army on the display base with the army story and then an entry for each unit (with photo) and their unit history and statline. The total booklet usually came to about 20-30 pages depending on the army (including two laminated pull out "play sheets" - one for my opponent and one for me). I had access to a good colour laser printer and a binding machine thingy so the cost was very marginal. Most opponents took their copy of the booklet home so somebody might have actually read those background stories (nobody has time at a tournament but maybe on the ride home).
Taking the pics on the display base also gives people an easy "look up" reference to identify individual units. That's especially important for "count as" units or armies with lots of similar looking units like my "one of everything" Empire army from the 2004 GT circuit:
