[blurri]

This is not slightly more options. Log is a lot of extra data for post processing.

Most people won't notice the difference that is true but this is true even for real cinema. Most people don't notice or care about things such as shooting on real film, aspect ratio etc.

The why is that people who create care about these things. Color grading and post shot creative manipulation, these things benefit from extra data. If I can't recover shadows or pushing white balance results in banding, those things are going to still be visible on a phone by myself and the small amount of people who do care.

[t0bia_s]

Log is just a curve that save image differently. Extra data are in chroma sample (4:2:2), bitrate and bit depth (10bit). For example log in 8bit is absolutely useless. You wont get higher dynamic range, that is what size of sensor does.

[blurri]

And that curve allows you to process colors/contrast with way less artifacts than a file saved with a more contrast/saturated colors especially if you compound your after effects.

Btw are you a photographer or a video editor?

[t0bia_s]

It might in some situations, but generally you will deal with banding anyway (8bit). Log needs higher ISO which means lower dynamic range [1]. Flat footage lacks depth so you'll need edit it, which create a new space for error.

Yes, I do audiovisual production and postproduction for living.

[1] https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm