Tbh I agree the final light steps can give it more of an arcade style and feel less realistic. I think if I used this effect widely I’d make a more professional light rays image with a different opacity. I’m not entirely sure I’d use the subsurface effects or not. If I did I may reduce their intensity.

One challenge with a demo like this is that subtle effects may look better, but they are harder to see. So I balanced making them visible enough to appreciate which is more intense than I’d otherwise want.