I don't know. I just started reading "Flying Swallow Startling Dragon" (aka "Mythical Crane Magic Needle"). I'll let you know after I read more.
As for different versions, it's like Jin Yong's novel having 3 editions. I read somewhere before that WLS changed the name because Bak Wan Fei's original name does not sound nice in Cantonese. So, he change the name for HK publication. Maybe he also felt that the original is too long and thus want to make it more compact? Bak Wan Fei's original name is Chu Yeuk Lan, sounds a bit like 'rotten pork meat'.
Anyway, no matter the lacking in storyline, I find that his writing style is very poetic. It gives reader a beautiful imagery when reading it. At least, for me it is.