Template or Tabula Rasa?

Which offers more advantage...a template, or a 'blank slate'?

Templates can offer us an escape from the burdens of design, relieve us from thinking about navigation, and certainly make it easier to populate and get things online.  Many times they will also indicate what my content should be.  On the other hand, in many ways these fixed features might be constraining.  If you are shopping around for a template and nothing seems to fit what you want - how should you spend your time, shopping some more or designing something simple yourself? And, if someone has already told me what content I should include, how does this help me stand out?

An open environment allows you to do anything you want.  Here is an example... I had a student that returned from Spring break with an amazing photo she had taken.  It was looking out the front windshield of her car, headlights illuminating a dark road ahead... In the rearview mirror an incredible sunset was captured and stood in stark contrast to the dim road ahead. "Wow!" I said, "What are you saying with this image? Are you implying that you are moving ahead down this road while at the same time reflecting on your past?"  I haven't seen a template that would allow me to capture and phrase message like this...  But then again, it is going to take some time to learn the tools that will make this happen.

Hmmm...  Template or Tabula Rasa?  Both have their advantages...