I don't think you're quite getting it...
True -- majority of hip-hop, period, is sampled. That doesn't mean thats the only way hip-hop can be done -- its not the only way it exists.
True -- Jazz artists do, in fact, do something similar -- But, just like we get permission of use, so do Jazz artists. (If they plan on making a profit from it)
And 05. seconds, 1, 2, 5, 20, seconds, the whole damn song -- doesn't matter how long the sample is and it doesn't matter how much you dismantle and distort it beyond recognition, still -- it has to be cleared (If you're planning on making a profit from it). And trying to distort beyond recognition is not respecting the original song or artists -- you're just trying to get away with stealing, thats all.
Now, just because you get a Motif, Triton, or whatever. Doesn't really make you a musician, per say (maybe if you're doing live performances with it or something). But if you use it in such a manner in your music, it'd be more so a composition.
For example, I play the Bass guitar -- a real one (Blue Fender P-Bass Jazz). I sometimes record a riff or more for a production. Does that make me a musician? Not necessarily.(I used to be) especially not when I just do a riff or two and loop it. Does that mean I'm sampling? No. I just made my own sample, just like when people make they're own drum samples or any other samples. Well if I'm not sampling, and I'm not a musician then what did I just do? Well even though it may not sound as complex as most usually end up sounding, and probably isn't played through the entire song or anything, it would more so be composing than anything else....
Sampling isn't hip-hop's survival.
And you may not fell guilty about not clearing samples -- I'm not trying to change that: but that is, in fact, Grand Theft Audio.
lol