HDR/tone mapping

Okay ive seen some fantastic photos and looked up how and what people do.

Ive done HDR but could never get them to look half as good as other peoples even with plenty of practice. So then i saw a breif mention of tone mapping ... hrmmm perhaps this is the key?

I experimented a little, and yes its safe to say, most of those fantastic shots have nothing to do with the HDR. All you need is to mess with the tone mapping.
Im not saying HDR is not good, its great for depth. What I am saying is that people are decieving you saying HDR is what gives it that ethereal 3d rendered  awesomeness that makes them the top posted DA images

Ill post a few images to prove my point in the next week with any luck.

ps. This isnt a rant, just explaining things to anyone like me who didnt know this stuff