I don't think the grid is the problem, it just happens that it's very easy in DAWs to make patterns that are very short (e.g. a 1-2 bar loop) and then arrange them in these 1-2 bar units. Very likely that will sound a bit stiff, repetitive and predictable, which works in some genres but not others.
Personally, trying to think in patterns that only repeat at 4-8 bars helped me out avoid that, while still using the grid.
Personally, trying to think in patterns that only repeat at 4-8 bars helped me out avoid that, while still using the grid.