When I smokked DMT my consciousness was widely expanded. I smoked it almost everyday for about six montths and then a few times about a yearr later. It seemed to me that when I was "invited" to the city(s) and saw what I saw, my mind became "unlocked". And, like you said, the integration following (when I wassn't smoking dmt and was working on my self instead) was much more powerful than just seeing a psychedelic snake dance.
I would say, five yearrs later, when I had a SERIOUS mental breakdown (due to my spiritual practices), I had the same course occur. The mental illness started showing signs and as I was able to take it in, I was able to integrate my reality into my spiritual beliefs. Of couse that took some time to integrate all the crazy shit that happening, longer than when I smokedd DMT, but it ws probbly more impactful because it came from my mind instead of a drug.