This pic represents part of my personal beliefs on using the lightbox. Some would say that all tracework is bad, while others just post nothing but traces just for their recomended daily allowment of lulz. Me? If you see something you want to remix, and that you're just planning on using the trace as a creative launching pad, and if you list the source properly, it's more or less cool.
This sketch I'm putting on my site is an example of what I'm talking about. A good eye can identify the windmill from "Prince of Persia 2008;" which I made into a mountainside windmill. While I started off with the lightbox so that I can get the basic shapes right, the rest was more freehanded. In fact, after about five minutes time, I turned off the lightbox and did everything else by eye and ear.
That is what I'd call a more ethical use of a lightbox, as less of a crutch but more of a shoe horn or bootstrap.
Of course, that's just my take on it. Your mileage can vary.
Also, it might not be final. There could always be a better picture later on down the road.
...what kind of pencil is that, btw?
I basically have this sketch up in place so I can make a better one at a later time.
But I usually stick with just HB for everyday sketching. It's a lot cheaper to use. But for the replacement, I'm definitely going for a multi-weight system.