Gene51 wrote:
There are some clear and compelling reasons to get PS/LR for $10/mo - with the most important one is that you can step up the quality of your post processing without the limitations inherent to PSE. I use PS/LR and numerous other programs, and the one time I had a student ask me to help her out with an image on her laptop that was running PSE12 I found it extremely limiting and frustrating to use.
You don't miss what you've never had...
Many years ago, I had an opportunity to use Photoshop - I believe version 4 or 5, for a short time. It was a huge exercise in frustration. Of course, I had no user's manual, I don't know if YouTube existed then, but I certainly had never heard of it. When I left my cousin's and her computer, I said a fond "farewell" to her computer, and knew PS was not for me.
Fast forward to 2009 (I think). For Christmas my son and daughter-in-law gave me PSE 7. There was still a learning curve, but I did not find it the same exercise in frustration that PS had been.
I am now using PSE 12 love the program. And while you say that there are inherent limitations in PSE, I have never once, wanted to do something to or with a photo that I couldn't do in PSE.
It all comes down to learning to use the tools you have. Since you are used to working with PS/LR, you will (often) want to do things you cannot do with PSE, however, if you had had PSE from the start and not worked with PSE/LR, you would also be proficient using that program and not worry about the inherent limitation, if fact you wouldn't even know what they are.
PSE is an excellent program, but if the readers here are still teeter-tottering between PS and PSE, I'd suggest a download of the 30-day trial of each, and play with the programs. In the end you, the user, is the only one that can make the decision which one is the "best" program for you.