If you're worried about it becoming a problem later, have you tried settling him and just before he's asleep, then putting him in the cot? That way he's almost asleep, but in his cot, and he might just go back to sleep. Also, during the day does he sleep in his cot all the time or various places? I used to have Nina in her bouncer and she'd only sleep there during the day, I had to change that so she'd sleep in her cot, which took about a week to do, but it works now.
I personally don't see rocking/patting/feeding them to sleep a problem. I will occassionally have to do it with Nina if she's overtired.