Cheats aren't a turn off or a turn on; having them or a lack thereof wouldn't affect my decision to play a game or not. However I have no issue with them and do enjoy using them. Generally, I play through a game at least once or twice without any at all, and usually on the harder difficulties. My favourite is New Game+...I love this mode for allowing me to enjoy the game with a character I already put the time and effort into, with all my inventory and armaments intact, also with the ability to play the story differently, or experiment with new strategies with the tried and tested ones as backup.
I tried Hitman: Absolution but it was really no fun. I used a trainer to give infinite "Instinct" because frankly it's a stupid frikking mechanic that ruins the game, not enhances it. There was a marked improvement, however the game still sucked enough that I gave up on it before even finishing Act I.
Generally, if I cheat, I do so "within the system" as it were. I will allow my character the best of what's legimately available to them in the game. Removing money from the equation can often enhance a game significantly, taking out the frustrating struggle and the need to constantly loot everything. Skyrim is a good example...after once levelling smithing/enchanting/alchemy/sneaking the normal way, on a subsequent playthrough I didn't bother. I still levelled everything else normally, just not those stupid grindy ones. And I removed the need to loot every iron breastplate and steel gauntlets I came across, struggling to find enough merchants (through multiple load screens) to sell them to.
As a PC gamer, particularly one with a lifetime sub to Cheathappens, I almost never have trouble filling my cheating needs. I'm not afraid of save editors, or in the case of Mass Effects 2 & 3, editing the coalesced.ini (in addition to NG+).
I do miss the Capcom cheats on the SNES though....what was it...up up down down left right left right y b x a?