I think it's each to their own really...personally I use a combination.

Using recorded loops can definately help you start off on a groove (which can be the hardest bit to define)...then I add my own patterns over the top of that.

I then usually either remove the loop(s) completely, or filter them to smithereens so you couldn't recognise them anyway.

But a lot of techno / electronic music uses sampling, so I don't have a problem with them at all - it's what you do with the sounds that count.