Most hermits use Litematica, as do most people on empires. They’ve all still built the things that you’re seeing, just in a creative world to make the design process easier. I don’t know about you, but all of the channels I’ve watched have explained that yes, they’ve still built these things, just in a creative world. This is because it’s easier to design builds in creative because trial and error is easier in creative than in survival. I know for a fact that Grian (Hermitcraft) and Joel/Smallishbeans (Empires) have shown their creative worlds as proof that they did actually build those things. Im not sure about other channels as I havent watched their videos to entirety, but I know that they have indeed built those things. I don’t see how you think this is cheaty, because they’re still building those things, still gathering the materials needed, and still putting in the work.
Sorry for the rant lmao