Sometimes, it seems, when I use the estimating feature, I do better, even though it’s not available on a real board. Is this cheating?
Nope. And neither is using the analysis function when it’s available.
You must only know that the score estimator can be WAAAAY off, especially when there still are open borders and open Dame points, etc.
Plus, it doesn’t take Komi into account, and I’m not sure about prisoners.
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And it doesn’t let you practice counting.
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Right. The score estimator is a trap for the unwary. It routinely mistakes the status of groups, even big ones, and it is really bad at guessing solid territory in the middle game.
I recently lost a game by a dozen points that it confidently predicted I was winning by 20 until the last couple of moves (I knew better though).
If you base your strategy on what it tells you, then ‘cheating’ is not the word I would choose.
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Well, probably possible to use that word, as in “self-deceit” 
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