Yes, exactly - I followed the technique and liked it, but I didn't follow the actual recipe very closely. I adapted the recipe every time I made it, because I'd read other people saying exactly what you said - that it was bland. The variation I was happiest with differed from the original in four ways:
- more than double the salt
- 50% whole wheat flour
- the loaf was rolled tightly rather than just shaped into a ball
- more than double the time allotted for the second rise

All of these changed the texture and/or flavour significantly from that which the original recipe produced. But, I love chewy bread, so right up front that's going to make the biggest difference as to our relative happiness with that recipe.