In traditional painting, since hundreds or thousands of years ago, many drawing techniques relied heavily upon using different physical brushes. The properties of each different brush would make certain tasks easier for the painter.
In more modern times, as computer-based drawing evolved, that same principle became a basic feature of drawing applications - that is, the ability to change between different (virtual) 'brushes', each with different characteristics, such as shape, but also intensity and other factors which make the artist's job both easier and more nuanced.
In a way, your reduction of the idea to "a set of rubber stamps of sorts" is true, in the same way that a physical brush is equally "a stamp of sorts", if the artist chooses to use that brush in a suitably monotonous stamping action. But in digital art (as in physical art) the total picture is more about the skilful wielding of myriad tools and techniques, through multiple steps and recombinations.
To bring in another analogy - every wood worker uses basically the same tools, the basic claw hammer shape hasn't changed in a long time, the basic screw drivers, drill bits, etc. The same set of rubber stamps, in a way. Is that a constraint upon creativity and uniqueness? Perhaps, but not meaningfully.
In more modern times, as computer-based drawing evolved, that same principle became a basic feature of drawing applications - that is, the ability to change between different (virtual) 'brushes', each with different characteristics, such as shape, but also intensity and other factors which make the artist's job both easier and more nuanced.
In a way, your reduction of the idea to "a set of rubber stamps of sorts" is true, in the same way that a physical brush is equally "a stamp of sorts", if the artist chooses to use that brush in a suitably monotonous stamping action. But in digital art (as in physical art) the total picture is more about the skilful wielding of myriad tools and techniques, through multiple steps and recombinations.
To bring in another analogy - every wood worker uses basically the same tools, the basic claw hammer shape hasn't changed in a long time, the basic screw drivers, drill bits, etc. The same set of rubber stamps, in a way. Is that a constraint upon creativity and uniqueness? Perhaps, but not meaningfully.