I prefer the original version of TAMP much more. After seeing them play the original version live before the album even came out, I can say that IMHO it is far superior to the version we have on the CD. I was extremely disappointed when the CD came out and heard that version. I like how MP describes it in the Lifting Shadows book.
Until very recently I would have agreed, but recently I realized I don't mind the album version of TAMP at all. The vibe always used to bother me, but not really any more.
And listening back to the demo version, the tempo plods a bit, and it feels a bit more same-y with the other demo tracks, and feels like it's lacking a little something. I'm not sure the album version rectifies that in a way I'm entirely happy with, but I do prefer it nonetheless. Judging by how the other songs turned out, maybe the demo version would have sounded a lot better with the FII production though.
I would have also dropped YNM for The Way It Used To Be. YNM is okay, but it sounds like they were deliberately trying to make a Top 10 hit and it's a bit disappointing to know it probably wasn't a song the band would have normally written, especially considering the lyrical assistance.
The outside songwriter isn't a big deal at all to me. Sure, it wasn't the best fit for them, but it's not like he turned it from Metropolis into I Walk Beside You or anything.
He turned it from YOM to YNM. No loss!