I recently had to get another mobile phone. I had the Moto Z2 (12 mp camera), I got the Moto Z4 (48 mp camera). I am not going to become a phonee.
I have small Meike flash unit that I use on my RX100ii and I am happy with the results. On the flash model I have the battery life indicator is not accurate. It shows low battery quickly but there is still a lot of power left.
With A7Rii FW-50 battery I get about 250 shots. I have the viewfinder turned off as I use live view. If I understand the OP's original point, it is to use only the viewfinder or live view to extend the battery charge.
The most often heard complaint about Sony cameras with the FW-50 battery is how many pics you can get on one charge. There are a couple of ways to solve this--use the verticle grip with two batteries or have more fully charged batteries to use.
I only have 16 batteries for my three A7Rii cameras. It is easy to change batteries.
If you use uncompressed RAW on the R2 you get an 81mb file.
I use the R2. My new phone, motoZ4 has 48 mp sensor (I think Sony made this sensor too). I am not going to become a phonee with my photography because of physical sensor size.
Quality means a higher price (usually). I prefer variable ND. It is easier to turn it than unscrewing and screwing on another ND.
Just like Nikon cameras, most phone cameras use Sony sensors. Some things to consider is sensor size and how it is constructed. Backlit? Layed? MP?
Wildlife Safari is one of my favorite places. I am going there for he rest of this week. I hope you enjoyed your time there.
I got to see, handle and use the 200-600 lens at an event I was the photog. It is a good lens. I has interal focus and weighs less than I expected.
Capture One Express for Sony is free. Sony Imagining Edge is free.
I am having problems installing 1903 on one of my computers. It installed perfectly on my other computer. I have chatted with MS support a couple of times and they did things to my computer that also failed to install the update. I will contact a third time later today.
I would expect to see both these lenses being used by the Sony shooters at the Olympics in 2020.
I use Capture One Pro (Sony) and Zoner Photo Studio. ZPS is good and easy to use. You might want to give ZPS a chance.
As a Minolta --> Sony user, I do not find the Sony images to be HDR like. Sony offers a few menu settings that can produce an HDR effect in camera (i.e. HDR, multi-frame auto ISO, and handheld twilight). If the photog was using one of those setting he might be able to make that claim, but these settings do not produce an actual HDR looking image.
I have used each of these settings at times as they have a purpose. I am using the Sony A7Rii now.
CO1 is a great editor. It has some limitations as you noticed. This why most use at least one other processing in addition to CO1. I also use Zoner Photo Studio.
You may want to use CO1 support and see what they say. They have a series of things to do that can get you what you want.
Welcome. I am in Tigard, Oregon.