For micro four thirds, lens correction is specified as part of the standard, and Lightroom applies it automatically with no option to disable it. I definitely like Capture One's behavior better, giving the choice to apply it or not. Turning it off for a m43 camera is actually seeing "more" of the image than you'll get SOOC. The difference in angle of view for a wide angle shot in 3:2 or 16:9 is substantial!
Hi,
I also like that Capture One offers the possibility to choose. Distortion correction requires resampling of the image data and that will result in slightly reduced image quality at the pixel level. However, for some subjects, the distortion is much more distracting and detrimental to delivering the message. So, it's a trade-off.
I'd say that for subjects with predictable geometry, like architecture or certain product shots, it helps to reduce the geometrical distortions. It's similar to removing keystoning. Capture One also offers the possibility to adjust the amount of correction, which make it even more useful.
To make sure that the Distortion correction for certain images is automatically applied, or not applied, one can make a User Style out of it and apply that when importing the images (see attached), or at a later stage.
Cheers,
Bart