First of all, thanks for the in-depth critique and edits, ptoing. As always, I really appreciate it, and almost nobody crits and edits me a lot anymore so thanks doubly.
You are quite right that the AA is spartan. In your version everything's cleaner and rounded out, but as I mainly intended this as an 1x zoom piece in 1204x res or so, the final effect is really minimal. Obviously since pixel artists are really anal about detail, this doesn't say much, since if you tidy every little bit up, it goes the extra 1% of the way to make something from great to complete awesome. I'll try to use more skillful and proper AA from now on, even AFTER my brain screams 'you're finished, done. This stands as it is.'
As to the darkening, although from a game-art perspective more contrast is better, the palette has been optimized towards a specific feel and aesthetic, as you say, misty. My eye prefers your version, of course, but my brain knows what was up and sticks to the gameplan
Total agreement on aaditherclash, will try to keep an eye out for such stuff in the future. I intend to do a few more portraits in this vein, so the next one will benefit from all this critique and thoughts. In fact, ptoing, why don't you send me a pic of you straight-on, at this res, or even if you feel like it, lineart it too, and I'll do the bitmap brothers dealie on it.
I intend to do a portrait of myself in the future as well, and of a few other people I have in mind. It's going to be good fun to see them all assembled in the end, pop-art style.
