As a commercial rotorcraft pilot who's flown hundreds of hours at night, I can tell you it's very different. I flew a police helicopter in Atlanta for 8 years. We flew much lower than any GA pilot, sometimes as low as 100 feet AGL. Even after getting signed off as a PIC, I still had to fly with an experienced pilot at night for a while because it's more difficult. It can be done safely, but it takes experience to really get comfortable with it. Distances are much harder to judge at night, and the horizon can just disappear!
Now, some of that has no bearing on UAS flight, but it is good to know. You really have to know the area you're flying in, and know the obstacles.
Having said that, I agree that the rules for night flying need to be relaxed. It can be done safely, and should be allowed.
But, can you blame the FAA? When pilots fly their drones into the Space Needle, or at 1500 feet, at night, and almost hit a police helo...twice? No surprise the rules are so strict...
Just my opinion as always...