For me it's about one thing -

The fantasy -

Every photoset tells a story, creates a fantasy in the surfer's mind. The surfer becomes "connected" in some way.

Poor lighting is fine if it's a voyeur shot. Grainy and small pics are fine if you are trying to convey it's self submitted pics. Even not attractive models are fine if that's the theme. It's all a component of the fantasy.

For example, IF you are trying to create a hand job site and one guy is giving another a hand job. Let that guy giving the handjob finish the other guy off. The second the other guy touches his cock to finish himself off. The fantasy is gone. The surfer MAY even get so connected that he is imagining he's the one giving the other guy the handjob.

Add all the elements you did in the shoot and see if you created the fantasy in the surfer's mind. If you did it's a hit. If not, you have a disappointed surfer.