I'm the same way, man. I've only smoked DMT twice, and it felt very similar to salvia; very quick onset, intense rush, unable to move for a minute. But, all the while, the visions were just strange patterns, and vines growing on things. I didn't see any of Terrence's gnomes but there were small shadowy figures moving about in my periphreal vision and whenever I tried to look right at them, they would disappear. The whole thing was just too quick and pointless. It was fun as hell, but pointless.
As you said, with ayahuasca, I become the vision. All of a sudden, I AM a jaguar, or a bird, or a fish; and I can feel the jungle around me (when I'm nowhere near a jungle), I can smell different things, hear sounds, and feel myself as a wild cat running through trees and rivers. It's fucking amazing. It's so much more real than any other drug enduced experience. I actually like the fact that the peak lasts for an hour or more because it gives me time to explore and have fun with it.
With smoked DMT, it's like "Hey man, how have you been. It's good to see you again. Sit down, enjoy the show. Now Get the fuck OUT!!!" and it's over.