Back in the day there were only liquids like Infusium which was da bomb until they changed the formula. It made my hair hard. I prefer liquids (haven't found one I like) so I mostly use creamy leave ins.
I prefer liquid. Creamy tends to stick my strands together. I use Giovanni vitapro fusion which is basically a liquid version of the direct. The exact ingredients except for 1 thing I believe.
I use both. I like cream when my hair is wet and liquid when my hair is dry or out, although I do use cream if I bun. I guess it depends but I find a need for both.