There are lots of options as you are well aware of, and as noted most have at least 30 day trials. I used to use the Adobe train and have gotten off of it, as I prefer some of the other options. Capture One is an amazing piece of software, does wonderful raw conversions and had really great precise color correction. For me, their catalog/session interface is kind of funky but usable. I use it for really precise careful work that I will print large or deliver for customers. Other times and probably mostly use OnOne. I like their software, it has some issues but they are working on them and none of them are real problems but you can probably say that for most software packages. I like the interface, I like the non-destructive process and the ease to go back and process again without losing any history and the ability to use many layers etc. Masking is powerful for OnOne and quite easy to use and looking forward to the improvements later this month in that department. Creatively there are more options for OnOne and it is quite useful for most things. I could use it for all my processing but it is nice to have options.
I have tried Luminar and did not like it that much. Topaz has some unique masking options and works but I find it is not that great a path for me, but it is a tool I do have if needed, since I had invested in their plugins.
For a photoshop replacement I have Affinity Photo, which I really like. You can have 5 installs if needed, it is also available on an ipad. It is not that great for raw conversion, but for things like stacking for noise reduction and other pixel crunching it works well, it also supports most existing photoshop plugins.
I have not tried Alien Skin Exposure, don't see the need and it is costly. I run a Windows PC so none of the mac specific apps are on my list. Darktable is interesting but not quite there yet.
As a sort of conclusion after trying and working on a lot of pieces of software, they all do pretty much the same thing. They all work, they are tools. What it really comes down to is how it fits with your workflow and how you like to work. If you pixel peep a lot, then the raw conversions can make a real difference, I don't, what matters to me is how the whole image looks, it is the content, not the specific pixels. So try many of them, then decide which ones you really want to master and what will accomplish your end result that you desire. There are many options, be open minded and try them, it takes a while to force yourself out of the mold of habits but the change can be refreshing.
Alan