To be honest, I don't view Gimp as a tool for working with photos. I prefer RAW editors, and find myself surprised that you wouldn't be using Lightroom or Aperture.
In fact, I don't really see Photoshop (despite its name) as a tool for working with photos, either.
I admit adjustment layers are nice, but I don't see lacking them as a fatal flaw when there are a few workarounds and, depending on the task you're trying to accomplish, might not even be an important feature.
In any case I don't really claim the open programs are currently 'better' per se (though in one or two cases it may be true or close true), just that they're more than good enough to get decent results from.
In fact, I don't really see Photoshop (despite its name) as a tool for working with photos, either.
I admit adjustment layers are nice, but I don't see lacking them as a fatal flaw when there are a few workarounds and, depending on the task you're trying to accomplish, might not even be an important feature.
In any case I don't really claim the open programs are currently 'better' per se (though in one or two cases it may be true or close true), just that they're more than good enough to get decent results from.
Gimp definitely has some hidden surprises.