Please don't apologize, Kali. It's a really *good* question. And a really interesting question, too.
I've written both prose and rhymers and find - for me - that the story tells me how it wants to be told. In the draft phase, being in the rhyme-groove is being an unstoppable freight train. I truly cannot change gears.
Twice, though, I've later switched rhymers to prose. Once, the story begged for it. (Imagine the words, "No, no, no - and I'm
not trying to rhyme here!" being screamed off the page!) The other time, an editor asked me to resubmit the manuscript as prose. Initially, I was very resistant but ended up doing so and now like it equally both ways for different reasons. (Aside: she liked the prose better than the rhyme, but ultimately rejected it.)
I think you're really clever to do your 2-3 versions! What an exercise! But I hope you won't avoid rhymes altogether, even if they appear in a prose piece. The reader in me (especially the reader with three cherubs snuggled close) loves those little rhyming surprises.
Thanks for bringing this up, Kali. I'm really eager to hear what others say!!