This is a really nicely executed project. We'd like to see your motherboard closer, of course.
You have all the circuitry at one end? I was expecting from the intro youtube that the circuitry would be at the center (a darth maul saber, if you will). Do you have a counterweight at the other end?
You mention an accelerometer planned for version two. If you light the next version in batches or near-individual addressing, you could use fiery colors at the ends, and varying dark or non-fiery colors near the center, depending on accelerometer values. You could even make the "top" end burn hot while the "bottom" end gutters a bit, when not spinning. Just so you know, the ADXL330 types (Wii Nunchuck accelerometer) would be cheap and easy to use here.