I think if you darken the areas a bit outward away from the focal not only would it give it more focal emphasis but it will also add some awesome depth other than that I love it
in some ways I see what you mean about the uneven flow but with abstract I sometimes feel that a multi-directional flow seems to spice it up a bit I think he didn't mean for the multi-flow to happen but in someways it works it's not hard on the eyes and to me it's not distracting
i prefer your newest 1... you can always change the color e.e i would probably like it better in color