The prominence of random loot and the overwhelming amount of it that you get in D:OS really detract from the exploration aspect. You know you are just going to find Generic Sword of Mediocrity wherever you are and in whatever chest you look. I definitely prefer hand placed gear, though you could have a mix. Unique items you get from exploration and bosses, and random loot from the mobs throughout the game. Uniques should also have special properties you can't get anywhere else, Obsidian did a really bad job with this in PoE like transfat said. Since it's not really feasible to expect unique items for every slot for every conceivable build, crafting can fill the hole, so to speak. Crafting shouldn't be able to replace the loot you gain from exploration entirely though. It's a pretty delicate job of balancing crafting to be useful but not so it eclipses everything else.
