Good Banner?

[Iguana]

Here goes:

-The lightning looks terrible. I know you explained it in your post. but you really don't need it. Also, instead of taking it out of another pic, Photoshop has enough tools to create your own lightning effect.
-The embossed text you have interferes with the image in the background. You might consider making it transparent, or changing the screening mode to Soft Light.
-Maybe it's just me, but perhaps you should add a blur to the background of the text. A motion or radial blur would look good.