I don;t think I've ever used a cheat to get past a particularly tricky or annoying part of a game. But I have used GP and XP exploits in a few RPG games (Dragon Age for instance). And I've used instant item creating codes in a few games to get me some high quality armour and weapons. But for the most part these cheats have not been used in first plays through of a game, though mostly because I don't know about the exploits when I first play a game and I only learn of them later.
I don't have a problem with cheating when it's only between you and your console / PC (or co-op). If I want to feel a sense of achievement at having beaten a challenging game then I won't use any cheats or exploits. If I just want to play a game and see what happens at the end, and in particular not get bogged down in drawn out battles, then I will use exploits that help up the pace of the game. Using cheats and exploits when competing against other people = bad and I would never do that.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
Jimi Hendrix
