Really? For me, this shot is all about lines and curves, the play of the cloud pattern along those lines and curves, and gradations of tones, all of which is more apparent in the black and white. I don't dislike the color version, but I don't respond to it the way I do to the conversion.
Oh yeah, and your avatar is kind of freaking me out. Maybe part of it is the Scotch..... What is it from?