Maybe I'm not understanding this correctly. I realize there are limitations as to what cameras can or cannot see - the sensors, aperature, exposure setting, and frame rate all relate to limitations. But, even if the initial lightning channel isn't seen, wouldn't any kind of refraction or scattering of the light - due to cloud material create a diffusion of the flash - and as a result be detected on film (video or still)? I would think so...
As I stated before, I very rarely film lightning during daylight hours unless, of course, convective cloud cover is limiting daylight to begin with...
In addition, Jeff were these two video's taken from the exact location? I would think, even if the photos/video were taken a mile apart - that the vantage could be totally different. You could possibly have all types of different light/contrast/obscuration issues to deal with, I would assume.