Final summary; maybe:
RAW data, if this is "edited" without first making a VC, those edits will NOT appear in any subsequent VC's made from the RAW data.
If you want the first "edits", e.g. spotting to stick for subsequent VC's you first need to make a VC (#1) with the spotting edits. Subsequent VC's made from VC #1 will contain the spotting plus whatever, e.g., Hue VC #2 (with spotting) VC going back to VC #1 (with spotting edits) plus Tone Curve VC #3 (but without Hue). If you want spotting plus Tone Curve plus Contraast you take VC #3, make VC#4 and then make Contrast edits.
So how do you get spotting plus Hue plus Tone Curve plus Contrast?