That's exactly how I feel about my artwork. I often dabble in 3D myself. I also have a tendency to use photographs of textures, as one would use in 3D for some of my maps. On other sites, I get accused of just place photos in a unique way, but not creating my work, myself.
For me its the final result that counts. Sometimes I hand-draw, sometimes I use 3D, sometimes I use photo textures as shape fills to create maps. The fact that I don't actually "paint" using PS or GIMP makes some think that I am somehow less of artist, because of it.
Well, that's meaningless bunk and doesn't sway me on what I do to create my art. In this way, the end justifies the means.
GP