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Hi Leon,
The second image has a gradient in it where the right hand side has a gradient to it whereas the first image does not. (gradient - background is uneven in lightness).
This is costing you contrast in the second image and is probably suppressing the data.
There is a good free tutorial on handling gradients at Wade Observatory using channels and the gradient tool in Photoshop. Or even better Gradient Xterminator by Russell Croman (free trial) makes these gradients a thing of the past.
So don't assume it wasn't worth it. Longer exposures in my experience mean less noise and easier processing. Lack of exposure severely limits your ability to extract the signal without a lot of noise.
Just as a comment you can even get gradients imaging from a dark site. A bit of cloud, the moon, a bit of glow from your laptop, headlights, your torch etc etc.
And yes it is a good image.
Greg.
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