I understand your point. Especially the second one. I feel sort of a remorse because if i'd have been the compositor/maker of the work, I'd make so many changes to bring a proper sense of look into it.
Keep it up, I may not have followed or practiced it too much, But tutorials, sure is a good thing to have a habit of looking at and to seek new things from. More importantly the good techniques. Once you learn them, some time when you're at the midst of a work, one of the techniques strike the mind and it will have a beautiful effect when used properly and saves you so much time instead of a complicated procedure to accomplish an effect which don't go with the desired look.
Well,

Creativity over time. It's all in it. It doesn't always need to take time to get a masterpiece.

You start over doing some serious unique stuff and 5 minutes later you realize you just did a masterpiece.
But detail and simplicity, when put in the right place, can achieve you anything.
Haha, good talk, I've not expressed this much these days.
Looking forward to your graphics.
KBC