I like the B&W conversion, I like the detail and I like the added ear shadow. I think a bit more on the left so as not to cut the eye ribbing would have been good.
I like it too, specifically because of the shadow I think. Conversion looks fine and the ear itself looks great. Another vote for a little bit more on the left and thus slightly more of the image in focus.... maybe even sacrifice some of the right and even the bottom, but these things are such a matter of taste.
Rudi, I've looked at this a few times and I love the way you've processed it … excellent job.
If you have an opportunity to take something like this again, may I suggest something a little from left field? If you framed the image using the shadow of the ear as the point of interest, exclude the real ear completely and have the focal point on the skin where the shadow falls … I think you would have something really interesting and intriguing. Just a suggestion, of course. (Might try it myself, come to think of it! )