Agree 100% but these types of conversations on UHH - as you've already seen - don't seem to change anyone's beliefs. There appears to be a large contingent of members who have forgotten how much you could and would "edit" via the wet darkroom, and who are judgmental about anything to do with digital photography outside their narrow personal vision. On the other hand, some folks just like to argue!

I feel fortunate to have connected with several talented members here, early in my membership, who encouraged my exploration in the digital darkroom. Now it's a joyful part of the hobby.

The silhouettes in #1 are all home-made "stamp-brushes" made from my own pics

Reading a Hog conversation that gọt a little warm about whether post processing removes the pure “art” from photography. It seems some think photography must be SOOC to be “real”.
It seems to me the post processing could be interpreted as being similar to what a painter or sculptor does. Is a blob of paint SOOT (straight out of the tube) more “authentic” than the final painting the artist does? Is the sculpture of less merit than the block of granite?
The color and the granite are both genuine, and can covey a message without manipulation, but the artist that changes them also brings us something from his/her mind and heart that conveys or evokes emotion.
A photograph never captures the view exactly the same as experiencing it in person. It conveys something of the photographers interaction with the scene (think Impressionism). And I enjoy abstract and highly manipulated photos that are completely unidentifiable as to the subject, just as I do an abstract painting.
So, I say let each person do and enjoy and share photography however they want. All approaches are equally valid.

Professionals and hobbyists typically have different mind-sets, and there's a reason for it. Professionals have to concentrate on giving the client what they're looking for, which typically means working to the highest possible technical standards. Hobbyists, on the other hand, concentrate on whatever they please and only have to suit themselves as far as technical standards are concerned. Most professional photographers aren't in a position where artistic interpretation or creative thinking are required, so it's not something they prioritise. On the other hand, we hobbyists can give ourselves free rein and be as artistic and creative as we want.

From the above observations I have concluded that the creatives can't look to the professionals and assume that they can expect understanding, appreciation and appropriate advice from them. Some professionals can and will show these attributes, but I suspect they are a minority. So the creatives have to be self-reassuring to a point, and have to learn to ignore negative criticisms about technical imperfections because that isn't what the creative prioritises. Some hobbyists aspire to producing professional-level photography so technical standards are important to them, but the creatives march to a different tune. If they can avoid disasters and come away with something usable, that's good enough for them.

I'll weigh in here, although I know probably 90% of y'all will disagree with me. I'm neither. I do try to get things right in-camera, as doing so gives me credibility as a photographer. I may use LR or PS to make adjustments to try to bring the resulting photo to the point of expressing as nearly as possible what I saw. I draw the line at adding elements that were not there. I do sometimes subtract things like wires and posts that are in the way of my subject or distract from it. My mission in photography is to carefully record what God made. To add elements to a scene would violate that mission. To subtract man-made distracting elements from a nature scene does not violate it. Other people have different missions and different purposes. I enjoy their "playfulness" even though I wouldn't do it myself.

I do not think my way is better - just different.

Also, I really hate doing PP work! I'm so overjoyed when I open a RAW image and see that I don't have to touch it!