You're expectation is unrealistic...the manner in which the raw processors does it's processing is not at all consistant...sorry but you are trying to compare apples to oranges and finding strawberries. What did you expect?
Hi Jeff,
Although the underlying Raw processing is different, is it really that unrealistic to expect a base-line that is somewhat resembling the actual image (camera thumbnail with minimum adjustments) as it was shot? I'd say no. It's similar to the different WhiteBalance color temperature and tint values one gets between the various Raw conversion engines. Although their numerical CCTs differ, the look will be close to identical, e.g. for Daylight.
That being said, Adobe made a deliberate choice (one can call it a 'look') for a
different kind of baseline, and that's something people should come to realize. What one does with that baseline is up to the user of the software. Capture One also offers (two or more) different base styles, with a 'filmcurve' response (brighter and with compressed highlight roll-off) and a 'Linear' response.
The kind of control that one then gets for modifying e.g. the base tonality, I'd agree, is significantly different between some of the Raw converters/editors (even if the controls have similar names). One should really learn to use a program well, and it's better to not try and mimic the look of another program but use the strengths of the chosen program.
Cheers,
Bart