Ernst wrote:
...Is there not something in returning to the original, whether RAW or
film, and process, edit again with newer tools and another view on the
subject? ...
Yes, definitely. I try to save the original as well as significant drafts of the files I work up. But I think that a good, as unaltered as possible 16 bit Tiff captures most of what the raw file has. True, if there are new methods of decoding the Bayer pattern or the like they would be missed, but it would probably not be a huge loss.
Actually, I like the strategy of Leica in having their raw be the *.dng format. It may be the most likely to be supported years from now. I get very annoyed when Nikon and others don't make updated drivers for items like the Nikon 8000 scanner when new OS's come out.
Paul