using "game explorer" with online chess: questionable?

As a relatively frequent player of Online chess, I freely consult the explorer database during the beginning of the game. Doing so gives me insight as to what moves I am considering as candidates, what moves I am not considering, what opening I'm in, and what move puts us in a position when we're on our own. It is a valuable learning tool, and I use it as such. However, while it helps me as I have listed here, that is about the extent of it. "Playing the percentages," would not help me play the game I'm in. I have to understand what I'm doing in order to play. I go against the percentages all the time, simply because that's the idea I want to play. The explorer database is not an engine. I assume my opponent is doing the same thing, which is perfectly fine with me.