Maybe what you are missing is the gather node? In a well lit scene an illuminated prop doesn't really give out as much light, as I'd hope, I had to learn.

With a gather nde you can have an object catch the light and it looks as if something is glowing:

Maybe thse links will help:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2217752&page=1

and this one:

http://www.castleposer.co.uk/articles/shader_gather.html