I understand where you are coming from Craig and it can be really disappointing to a newbie that expects to see something similar to what they have seen in images but that just isn't going to happen. I remember my first view of a nebula, I was speechless but at the same time I wondering why there was no colour and why it was so faint.
I still get a buzz when observing faint fuzzies, as if you think about it. You are actually observing an object that is an uncomprehendable distance from you but I guess it is different for everyone.