Just to add my couple of cents worth, I have 20x80 Triplets and I can't see any separation in the rings of Saturn, but I can see the rings. M42 comes out super clear for me, at my reasonably dark site. I clearly see the nebulous gaseous region with two extremely large and bright stars close together with a number of other smaller stars in the region. I am recalling this purely from my memory not observing notes from my diary.
I can tell you that M42 in by bins looks awesome, especially when the seeing is extra good, on the night I last looked and saw it, it was amazing and I only regret that I am not advanced and setup enough yet to take a photograph.
As eric has mentioned some celestial objects are stunning, I saw 4 clusters in 30 minutes, last week and each one was uniquely different, I have not drawn (sketched them) but am seriously thinking of doing this. Each one has some characteristic about it which is slightly different from the next.
It is hard to describe the subtle and minute changes in words, because primarily those changes come in the form of density of stars, there magnitude at the centre and in the edges, the overall shape and something I have started teaching myself to do is to spend some time looking near the cluster i.e. looking at the surrounding area.
If the surrounding area is almost totally devoid of stars, then the cluster itself stands out more and has a more defined outline or shape. On the other hand if it is jammed in close to other features, it tends to stay in your memory for the combination of the clusters actual design as well as it's immediate surroundings.
I have not spent much time yet observing through my binoculars because the weather has been lousy most of Jan/Feb here in Sydney, but I am determined to observe intelligently.
Let me explain that a little. 8 years ago I had a stint of two years doing astronomy, mostly theoretical for study I was doing, therefore the actual observing was to accomplish a certain credit towards a pass mark. I did of course enjoy it but my motives were clear and when the study finished I moved away from astronomy. At that stage I was not truly into it.
Then of course when McNaught inspired the peoples of the planet, I too was swept up once again but this time for the right reasons, for the sheer beauty and adventure of it, not because it was beneficial for me in terms of getting better grades.
So now when I observe, I have this belief that I don't just want to look at a group of stars, but I really want to study it. I start on the baseline premise that no two clusters are the same and indeed they are not. I want to see then record the differences and when I return at a later date, I have this sense of reacquainting myself with an old friend.
I know that what I have written here would sound dumb anywhere but an astronomy forum, however I believe that to some degree I am on the money and that most people here consider their DSO's as old friends, some better friends than others.
No I am not crazy but when I am alone I find myself looking up at a star and saying hello to it (No it's doesn't answer back yet). Perhaps I am not like others in this group, perhaps I am a lone Looney, but I rather think that we like our stars, and express some degree of affection for them, even if we would not actually say that unless amongst other like souls.
All I can tell you is that I have binoculars, not a lot of money, about 1/90th of the price of my car and it is the singularly best money I have ever spent and it has given me the heavens and the earth and a lifetime of imagination, wonder and fun.
If you stay long enough on each object and think about what you are seeing and in your head say what you intend to write down, I find it helps me. I only use normal words like big, very big, bright, round, football and so on, I am after all just an ordinary person so I speak to myself (think) using the same words that I can readily relate to and recall later when filling out my diary.
This gets back to my original point that you can see great detail in some objects up to the limits that your equipment can handle, however if you don't spend long enough on each object and really take a serious analytical look, you may actually miss seeing detail that is there.
Like having your equipment clean and in good working order, well adjusted so too do you need to be in good shape. I believe you need to be in the right mood, stress-free and ready to see great details. Once in this phase, after your night vision fully kicks in, you can see plenty through good binoculars.
I don't know good from bad with respect to binoculars, I just know that with mine I can see a great deal, but I need to always be mindful that I place myself in the best possible position to see details, this means geographically as well as personally.
I apologise for drifting on and off topic several times, but I think that sometimes the problem is not necessarily the equipment, but could be the mood or circumstances the observer is in. For the great view, the perfect view, all things have to majestically line up, the seeing excellent, good equipment and most of all, an eager and appreciative observer 
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