MB, the Black Hole filter uses just a circle for its basic shape.
What do you expect for free? A KPT Suite? 
It does have a few preset deviations but you do get a very quick way of varying size, stroke, rotation, spacing, colour, concentricity, vanishing point and ovalness.
By all means use any other technique for getting the end result. That's the whole idea, interaction and getting people to explore and develop an idea.
Loopiness is just one possibility, to stir up the brain cells.
The Photoshop Styles and Distortions I've used are not essential.
Just making it look purty. 
I was wondering when you'd show up Pierre!
You can smell a vector a mile away on a foggy night, can't you? 
Keep 'em coming, folks.
Al.
