Question to Players: Is Going Dark Worth It? Do Your Choices Matter At All?

Ok, so I'm a more sensitive player and often don't like the dark side path but sometimes I wanna see where it leads me. My question is though...does it lead ANYWHERE? It doesn't seem to open up any doors or have any real effect in the long run at all. I've gone through more than half of one story, then half of another, and my dark side choices have no lasting effect, even ones against the Jedi council (as a Jedi).