The AO one looks so much better because it now has some dimension to it.

One more question. I notice that you have the diffuse_value set to .3.  When using the AO node do you always want a lower than 1.0 value?  Everything I'm wanting to use this on currently has diffuse_value = 1.0  and when I change it to 0.3 the object becomes very dark in preview. Haven't rendered to see what it looks like yet, but it's really dark in preview.

"It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to say." - Ghandi