I almost like it more when composers are clearly not original and take material organically from the music surrounding their lives and create something personal out of it.
One example, I have to imagine that the last movement of Dvorak 8 is a folk tune, perhaps not even an original Dvorak melody, put through all its various uses. Tavern singing, riotous folk dancing, instrumental solos on the pan flute, then a second tune in a medley to keep the folk dance going, then just the curtest nod to the requirements of symphonic development, then singing the tune as a church hymn, once through as a prayer, then as a congregation in four part harmony, then as an organ chorale, then humming it to yourself outside, and then finally a dance again. To me, that's a more organic, and sincere use of music than all the motivic development in the world.
Here it is with Ben Gernon, who strikes me as the most gifted Brit baton (or lack thereof) of the new generation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOWQQCWTVQ8&t=198s
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