F550EXR, HS20, S200EXR need ACR support

Question

I use an all Adobe work flow for my dSLRs and compacts ... I load every raw file and every jpeg into ACR, perform whatever conversion or tweaking I need, and then go straight into photoshop with no intermediate files, which I consider evil.
I intend to preorder the F550EXR as soon as possible, and this compact will be Fuji's first in a number of years to support the RAF format. Of course, with an EXR sensor, there is complexity -- detection of sensor mode, blending with a curve if in DR mode, binning if in SN mode. But solving these issues gets two cameras immediately, as the HS20 shares the F550EXR's sensor and most of its firmware, according to the feature set. And the EXR features should be portable to the implementation for the S200EXR, thus killing the third bird with a slightly modified stone. (If it matters, the new cams would be a higher priority, since this new sensor should have more of a future.)
In my opinion, the Adobe workflows are the only in-memory end to end workflows available in a professional-grade tools on all platforms, thus making it a bit of a monopoly. I have certainly avoided all other tools specifically to use this excellent work flow (Bridge->ACR->Photoshop) for every image. While I feel that it is fair game to stomp other software tools, I'm not as comfortable with ACR support influencing camera purchasing decisions. It certainly has the potential to influence mine ... (and yes, I am aware that I can just shoot jpeg, but the whole point is to avoid Fuji's infamous sledge-hammer NR.)

Answer 1

There might be more to it than that.
Consider...
A camera maker assumes, once you've bought into their line, that you will have to set up all their software to deal with the images from their camera.  For the sake of argument, assume we're talking about Canon and you've got their various apps, e.g., DPP, installed.  Time passes and you get used to using their software and develop a workflow around it.
Now:  What camera are you likely to buy next?  One that requires a whole new setup and learning process, or another one from their stable where you can continue to use their software just as you have been?
The last thing they want is for you to be using some integrating piece of software (e.g., Photoshop) that allows you to spread your money around to various other camera vendors freely.
It is to their advantage to try to lock you in to their brand only in every way they can.
There are lots of other areas where they do this - just try finding lenses and accessories that are compatible across camera vendors, for example.
As far as I know, some of the camera vendors have never published a specification describing what's in their raw files, and the fact that the files can be opened by Adobe software is a testament to the prowess of those who have reverse-engineered the formats!
It's a simple case of capitalism vs. what would make consumers' lives better.
-Noel