Basically I can't make a photo as bad as the JPEGs that come from the cameras -- I'd have to work hard at it. Processing a raw file I will always produce a final image with superior IQ to what the camera creates in it's JPEG. There are numerous reasons why:

1. I can expose the raw file more. I get a better SNR and better IQ as a result.
2. I can select how the raw file will be demosaiced. I do better at that than the camera.
3. I can process the raw data with local adjustments.
4. I can selectively sharpen or noise filter the image.
5. etc.

Below is an example of a processed raw file. The lighting was high-contrast sidelight and that's going to create a problem for any camera processor. In a landscape with a clear sky the camera will typically render the sky too light and shift the color cyan. The Sony R1 used here did precisely that. It's easy to take care of while processing the raw file -- I gave the photo I nice blue sky without causing the damage that would have resulted from editing a JPEG. Below is a link to the SOOC camera JPEG.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ud6376z7uwdaucb/_DSC4212.JPG?dl=0

Anyone thinks they can edit the JPEG and get equivalent results to the sky I produced processing the raw file please try. You will fail because the JPEG is already degraded by the action of making it a JPEG -- conversion to 8 bit and lossy compression.

Ive been a photographer for nearly 60 years, off and on. In my late teens I did an apprenticeship in photography and became what was then know as a 'Commercial Photographer'. I started with 35mm using a Leica M3 and then later switched to various Nikon cameras. I currently own a Nikon D7100 and Panny Lumix LX100II.
I only made jpg files until I bought the LX100I and started saving both jpg's and RAW files. I don't know why really, as I rarely dipped into processing RAW and when I did, I was never really happy with the results.

But recently, halfway through a radiation treatment for prostate cancer, I bought the LX100 MarkII. They say there's not much of an upgrade between the two, (maybe it was the radiation affecting my GAS) but there was enough for me to resort to YouTube for hints and tricks etc and a bit of help setting up some of the 'new' features.
In the course of that I discovered the then Panasonic Ambassador in Finland (he's since resigned, but his videos live on). His 2 reviews of the LX100II were so so, not overly enthusiastic but enough to convince me I had made a good, if not wise choice, for me.
However, he's a RAW addict (as every professional photographer seems to be) and he mentions RAW, a lot. His approach to his vids, for me, was perfect and I've almost become addicted to watching and listening to so many on a wide range of photography subjects, that I now want to share at least this one, on RAW processing.
After less than 2 weeks of practicing on some old RAW files I can now process the files in no longer than it took me to process a jpg file and appreciate the result.
Disclaimer: As when I was shooting jpg's, I setup my cameras fairly carefully and not all, but most files require minimal editing in Post.
I doubt I will ever save jpg files again unless I have the necessity to share them quickly via bluetooth or whatever.

Anyway, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHNerbFtzk0

His workflow suggestions for processing your RAW files is so efficient and simple really. I use Elements 21 as my light room. At this stage I haven't needed to resort to Layers or any of the more advanced tools to get a better result than what I achieved with jpg's. I save my files to the Organiser, select the ones I want to process, click the Editor and that automatically opens ACR. I then process as is suggested in the order suggested in the Video and click Save. They are then opened in the Elements Editor automatically where one can do any final non destructive tuning if needed on a 16 bit file. If they are for my website I Save for Web. QED