I think a clear recreation is a cool addition to a wider portfolio that also showcases some of the elements you mention.

Having one deeply extended project and one memorable clean recreation (it's getting upvotes, seems like a novel enough idea) is probably more unique than two mildly extended projects, if I were to hazard a guess into what people ripping through dozens of portfolios are thinking.

You are probably right that the portfolio needs to be rounded out though and that this project shouldn't stand alone.