Sure, There is no difference between following rules set by original device and game creator and using save states, entirely same skill is utilized, nothing is made easier by save states, you are just skipping meaningless gameplay with save states.
Yes, games are fun but reason you play games instead of watching TV or Movie is to do something, gaming is all about accomplishing something within the game from moment to moment of it and that is what makes it fun. You are not having fun with a game just because the game exists near you, interaction with that game is what makes it mean something which makes it fun. To me, save states is already in category of cheat similar to Game Genie, as some devices like Genie let you have save states, it is in same category if not same "heaviness". If you start assigning arbitrarily parts of game as meaningless then how hard is it to go all the way. To me, from experience, cheating and save states can easily erode meaning in the game you play, shreds the illusion of meaningfulness of the game, and that is experience that is not fun and means nothing even personally. I am did not make arguments about being better player, I am generally comparing a pretty shit gamer myself and my age going older has not helped with it either. I just want to experience the game as it is meant, and derive personal meaning of playing the game from it. If I fast forwarded stuff, I would not hear the music, see the visuals like they were put there by makers. Save states are absolutely a cheat to something like classic Resident Evil games, where limitation to your ability to save is assigned as game challenge, and erodes punishment you incur from dying.
I absolutely, personally, elect to not use cheats even in softest form. I respect games and myself to personally play the game as it was made to be played and if I dislike a game or parts of it heavily enough, I can just not play that game there is others.
