Re: raw conversion of professional photos

Doubtless you already realize this:
If working with a film transparency the image is what it is with no 
assurance that colors were accurately recorded. Create the same image
under 
identical conditions with different film stocks and the results, as we all

know, are visibly different.
Your client can take an image of a commonly available gray/black/white
card 
during a shooting session to provide you a reference point--a common 
strategy if "accurate" color is the main concern.
In my albeit not universal experience many "professional" image processors

forego accuracy altogether. If presented with a ****trait of, e.g., a 
caucasian subject they tune skin tones to a predetermined range of rgb 
values. This is hardly "accurate" but is usually pleasing to the client.
If you are distressed over the serious deficiencies of the Adobe raw 
converter in PS you are not alone in your feelings.
Hopefully CS4 will dispense with that monstrosity and open all images on
the 
desktop with all tools available in non-destructive fa****on, rather than
the 
current one-way direction of the converter and its many ill do***ented 
adjustment tools. For one thing, wouldn't it be nice to open a raw image
and 
have access to the curves tool in PS as your first tool instead of having
to 
do whatever you do in the converter and then move the image to PS?