I have always really thought that in a SW point of view (not necessarily KotOR) that a defensive build would be better, as eventually you would be well protected enough to be able to spot weaknesses or chances to break oppositions defence, although that is a bit too RL than KotOR has really.
Offensive build is usually the way it is for me on KotOR, i like to be able to, as someone said earlier in this thread, strike someone down in the game before they have the chance to get my PC back, its the best defence really .