[thrashh]

Your RAW/flat log files are also artificially manipulated too FYI and when you edit RAW, you just delay that artificial manipulation until you get to a computer.

Short of a 3CCD prism setup, most cameras use Bayer (or other) filters that capture a close but false image that then is reprocessed back to an approximation of the scene.

When people talk about smartphones having better processing, it just means on top of demosaicing, the software might be applying additional algorithms.

P.S. RED cameras don’t use 3CCD yet still cost $50k+ implying artificial manipulation is the way to go due to cost and physical limitations.