check if some tables exist or not in SQL Server database
Well if you turn on certain options in SSMS like "Check for object existence" you will get a script that looks like this when dropping and re-creating an object (e.g. table):

IF NOT EXISTS 
    (SELECT * FROM sys.objects 
        WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID(N'[&lt;schema&gt;].[&lt;object_name&gt;]') 
        AND type in (N'U')
    )


Is it better? Uncertain.
Is it different? Yes.
Is it what Microsoft would do? Yes.