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New, new to bass

Hey there, I'm new to these forums, and to the bass. I wanted to play bass for years, but just never had the extra money laying around to get set up. I recently got a ESP LTD B-50 at auction for $70, and loaded her with some Ernie Ball Power Slinky bass strings. From what I've read, the B-50 is a pretty good starter bass.

Eventually I'd love to purchase a Schecter Damien-Omen. But I'll wait til I can play more than the star wars imperial march haha.

I do have a question though. The music that I mainly listen to and wish to play ranges from classic hard rock to black metal, and is often played picked. A lot of the tabs I'm starting with are KISS songs, and Gene Simmons plays picked. However, a bassist friend of mine keeps saying that playing picked is either lazy or not really playing the bass. I'm honestly more comfortable with a pick, and since the B-50 has such a wide fretboard there isn't much space on the pickup for use as a thumbrest.

Am I cheating by playing picked? Or does it really matter? I'd love to hear some opinions on this.