Yes, even the supposed Lustmord "classics" like Heresy and Black Stars are pretty damn formulaic and cheese infested...
As for Magnificent Void, to me it is kind of like the template for what I look for in dark ambient. It is dark because that is where it needs to go, and the darkness is offset and highlighted, so to speak, by a variety of textures and ideas. It is dark as a product of its creation, I don't feel, when I listen to it, that Roach set out to make something intentionally dark or spooky, so the work comes out organic and alive, and much more dark, in my opinion, than when somebody is trying so hard to be dark.
I forgot that Lustmord was in on Stalker, which is one of the best dark ambient works of all, up there with Magnificent Void. So kudos for that. But I always felt that he just supplied Rich with some sound sources and textures and the true meat of the album comes from Rich's ingeniousness. Witness that there is nothing approaching how awesome this album is in Lustmord's catalogue, but in Rich's body of work there is an absolute gold mine of dark ambient mastery. Robert Rich can definitely turn up the scary and unease factor, but not because he is trying to be that way, but that feels truly like his inspiration, where he is following his muse.
I have been impressed with Cyclic Law. Kammarheit is the standout for me. Not sure about Northaunt, kind of a Rich copycat. Hildebrand I found to be quite lame on a second listen.
Alan, you are spot on about Metamorphyses and That Which is Tragic and Timeless. These are great albums. Especially Metamorphyses, which really deserves more recognition as a work of (perhaps) genius. These two are the jewels in the crown of CMI.
Speaking of CMI, are there any fans of Sephiroth, the artist who did Cathedron? This music is actually quite wonderful. Maybe a touch of the dramatic, but the ambient wonder is so well put together. The pounding drums are enjoyable for a different take on dark ambient. And his solo stuff under his own name, Ulf Soderberg, is wordly, ethnic tinged (in a very intelligent way) travelouge dark ambient. Very vivid and magical scenes come to mind when hearing his work.