Thanks Dave,
I am now playing with the test ARW/JPG files from Imaging Resource (
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PROD...a77-iiTHMB.HTM) and Sony IDC 5.1, C1 10 for Sony, DxO Optics 11 and Raw Therapee 5.1 - keeping in mind that all of them are more or less new (say 6 moths old or even less). The idea is to do my best to match the test JPG while using the same workflow. What I don't have is the camera profile(s) for them all. Just hope that Sony IDC and C1 for Sony somehow know the camera internals.
The results and conversion/export speeds are similar, at least as far as I can see using my cheap NEC E monitor. The main difference is in UI, especially RT vs IDC. Not sure I need more than 10% of all the RT options and endless settings. The export files are also different in size, sometimes significantly.
Two quick questions about C1: do you prefer to use your own camera profile - and how to find/cook it? Did you try Lumariver?
Other: do you see that the C1-exported JPGs are bigger than expected?