Outbuildings - Tonemapped and Stacked

I tried a number of different approaches to exposure stacking from a 3 bracket image. I included a HDRI for comparison but has had more tweaking applied than the blends below it. I tried the Photoacute but the sky was totally blown out (but with very low noise ). All have had auto curve adjustment and all have had a darkened sky added using the same technique and opacity in Photoshop....results follow:

1. The HDRI from Photomatix:

I discovered a very good alternative for image stacking (I did not test the HDR option) - easyHDR. I am very impressed! It is not how the name sounds...it has many settings that you can tweak within the program including a histogram and PS-like curves adjustment. These are the 2 non HDR merge options as described on their site:
"Instead of generating a true HDR radiance map, there is a possibility to merge the photo sequence using a pseudo-HDR algorithm (called Smart Merge) or to generate an image stack (simple average). "

6. easyHDR smart merge with curves adjust no additional PS work:

I prefer image #1 out of the lot......

#2 looks like the foreground is very slightly over exposed
#3 as you say strange sky and flat
#4 shadow detail in the left hand of the frame is lost
#5 waaay too flat needs a contrast bump
#6 is good almost as good as #1 but not quite as much detail in the clouds
#7 detail in the clouds has gone and blown out

I agree with Victor, that 1 and 6 are the best on the shots as presented, and if you took the sky from 1 and merged with 6 you'd have the best of the bunch. On the otherhand, I think you stopped to early on #5 and if you bring back the contrast you may have the best of the lot.

Thanks for comments Victor and Jon. I agree with you both.
I was so impressed with the 2 easyHDR stacking processes that I tried a sample with true tonemapped/HDRI approach. (slightly different image). I applied similar Post work in Photoshop - I remain impressed.
To summarize/clarify, there are only 2 images tonemapped here - #1 above and #8 below.

8. easyHDR Tonemapped