I looked at several alternatives: Lightroom, Photoshop, and other AI-powered editors. They're all great, but most are too complicated for a beginner or take too much time on routine edits. Luminar Neo stood out for its simplicity and speed. It lets you quickly process a series of photos without losing quality, and its AI tools are a real time-saver—for example, replacing a sky or enhancing lighting in one click. The interface is intuitive, allowing you to get started right away without a lengthy learning curve. Plus, the one-time license, rather than a subscription, was a nice bonus. Ultimately, Neo proved to be a perfect balance between a powerful editor and a convenient, fast tool for real-world work and creativity.