I find myself nodding in agreement to much of the above.  Please don't think I was implying not using imported objects in challenges.  Most of the time the individual challenges allow it.  But it seems that too few Brycers are going beyond pasting imports into a scene file and assuming that is all there is to it.  I whole heartedly agree lighting is a major, major factor. 

I did that little tut on materials.  Maybe someone more astute than I can list out and explain some art fundamentals like the "rule of 1/3s", lines in a scene that draw your attention to the intended subject, POV and camera manipulation, depth of focus, intentional barrel distortion...    Art 101