Jumpin' Jehoshaphat, HDR really does make a big difference! Nothing to share until I purchase a license for Photomatix but I like it. I really, really like it!
Well, that's the good reaction I was hoping to get from you and I feel like an evangelist that has saved a soul.. This is one of the benefits of shooting in RAW, and now you see why I have been advocating it all this time. Photomatix is considered the best tool, but recently its position has been challenged seriously by Aurora HDR, so before spending any money, also take a look at Aurora HDR. I want to warn, though, that it is very easy to create some really kitschy, eyeball-searing abominations with HDR software.
There is also some free HDR software out there, but I haven't found anything nearly as powerful as Photomatix and Aurora HDR.