Absolutely agree. Which is why many of us have used multiple products over the years as our interests and skills have grown before we found the "right" one. I started out with PS Essentials 9. I became a Lightroom user starting with version 4 and used it as a front end to PSE. I upgraded PSE a few times over the years and for a short while used Photoshop as a backend to Lightroom. I also used Canon's Digital Photo Professional. But, I was unsatisfied, and when Adobe went to the subscription plan it encouraged me to shop for alternatives.

I downloaded 30 day free trials of almost every thing available as well as some freeware offerings like Gimp. Since I was looking to make a purchase decision, I took advantage of the free trial periods and spent many many hours learning how to use, and how to get the best from, a number of different post processing software packages. I already had extensive experience with Lightroom, PSE and, to a lesser extent, Photoshop. I downloaded and taught myself how to use Capture One Pro, ON1, Luminar, Affinity, DXO Photolab Elite, and a few others. I spent a bit less time with Luminar because I just didn't care for it.

I shoot raw 100% of the time. My current editor of choice is DXO Photolab Elite, with the FilmPack and Viewpoint plug-ins, and DXO's version of the Nik Collection. I also have a license for ON1 which I occasionally use for those times when I need a feature not in Photolab.

It's been a long journey, and may not be over yet. You will have to see if your software requirements remain the same as your knowledge, skill, and goals change over time. Buying software just based on a recommendation from someone who uses it, is not always the best choice. Experience and trial and error is the real teacher.

to give everyone a break from all my flower shots. One Tuesday we went to Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island. I know it is totally the wrong time of year and it was also a clear, bright day but I hoped there would be enough birds in sight to make it worthwhile. Fortunately, I love being there, birds or no. Most of the "wildlife" I was able to capture was floral. There were a few birds present but most were far out in the wetlands and there was a lot of brush blocking the view of them.

(These look fine on my monitor, but please let me know if they look to dark on yours. The backgrounds on most are meant to be dark but the subject should not be.)
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