I think crystals add that element of coolness that suggests "there's a little more here than you thought"... I guess I'm a fan of saber elements that offer character... you know? story...

I've actually done quite a few - and as DN inadvertantly alluded to - not all have turned out display worthy It's kind of like the weathering thing: there's a thousand ways to incorporate this, and if it's done right, then it's instant-awesome; there's no "wrong way" but many degrees of "not-quite-right"