Thanks guys!
I'll be the first to admit that it can be tough to take criticism, but ultimately that is what I'm looking for with questions like this. I was just shy of slapping scales on this knife when I posted the first pics and thought that I was happy with the finish. Sometimes you need to respect the input and opinions of the community to see beyond your own short sighted vision. I'm really glad I listened to a few folks and finished it up like it is now.
I'm not saying that thinking outside the box is a bad thing at all. I love new and original ideas, but in this case I agree that if I had finished the knife the way I originally intended it would not live up to it's full potential.
Thanks for the input!