I use Lightroom 6 that I paid for, it still works and is still useful for my needs.

But as said needs are mostly general curve + highlights down + shadows up, it's possible they could simply be a jpeg preset in camera.

This line made me chuckle as well:

> Since I was a teenager I’ve used digital cameras

Digital cameras didn't exist when I was a teenager; and they cost about as much as a car when I was in my twenties. Overall I don't miss film cameras, although the scarcity was interesting. Taking a picture was an actual decision, unlike today.