Bravo Marc. Well put (you may be preaching to myself in the choir).
The simple act of revealing the often stunning show that nature provides is often not so simple.
Distant and ancient photons often need some heroic imaging sessions, excellent data subtle teasing out of the details they contain.
The GIGO (garbage-in-garbage-out) principle strongly applies.
Without excellent raw data what follows is doomed to mediocrity.
Stars eggy? There's a filter for that!
Arbitrary application of clown-like makeup via photoshop (or whatever) might make an interesting image. But to coin a well used phrase, a pig with lipstick, is still a pig.
Many astrophotographers who have discovered a new PS plug-in remind me of freshmen who have discovered beer (and often a little too much beer).
My guess is it takes a while before your palette can appreciate a good red or single malt.....