Here Is My Review
I'm also a big believer in using one's own creativity. Original works are better than remixes any day, and so is using one's own instrumental sounds. Admittedly, lots of times I'll just start with a VST preset and tweak it to my liking. Sometimes I'll barely adjust it at all. But making it sound completely different and still cool is always the most fun.
As for the song, it still sounds good without the effects. So obviously it will sound better with effects. The melodies are cool, but the only problem is how much that one melody repeats. It increases in complexity, but it still gets kind of boring after a while. Maybe adding some effects (filters and whatnot) can decrease the repetition.