Citing sources for work

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I find this a bit of a pain anyway but, at least if you have actually used a source, it's much easier to cite it than if you haven't. Sometimes, for example, I might be writing an article and all of the information for it just comes out of what's in my head already. I understand up to a point. I mean, when it comes to writing factual articles where it is necessary to quote sources so that people know you've done your research. The thing is, I wrote an article earlier today and I had an email about it which said: "It is vital that fact-based articles like this are substantiated by sources". The first thing which bothered me was that, personally, if I read something, while being backed up by facts is great and everything, I have more respect for writers who can think for themselves and come up with something original than I do for those who rely on other sources and, often, simply repeat other people's work in their own words. Anyway, the second thing, which didn't occur to me until later, it wasn't a "fact-based" article. It was really an opinion. I did cite the sources where I found a couple of quotes but, other than that, it was just my opinion. Well-written, apparently! So, I am asking these two questions: Firstly, would you prefer to read something which is full of citations from other people or something which is totally original? Secondly, if a piece of work is good, why is it that no one seems to consider that the information has actually just come from your own brain?