Hi Brent - I really like NX Studio, it being free is a positive. For some background as I review; I use NX and/or Affinity photo its been ages since using an Adobe editor but at one time I had an old edition of elements I used for a while. Also I am windows based currently running the latest version of Win 10.
So what I like a lot about it, the navigation bar remembers and takes you to whatever photo you were last viewing when you reopen the software. All of your computer drives and folders are in logical windows based "tree" like in windows explorer. This is nice to me as I like to organize photo files so I could "swap" a program and know where everything is if the other works differently. I use a card reader for from the camera import and I just use NX to copy, paste and create new folders.
Totally non-destructive - not unique when working with RAW files but the way they work it is slick. A sidecar file is created automatically when you apply any edit, you can play around with one or several photos and your edits "save" to the sidecar file. Say you are doing 100 vacation photos you just want to make Jpegs for a slide show or display or printing. You can just click though the group doing individual edits, you can take a break and come back as many times as you want. When done ctrl click the photos you wish to export chose your folder and size and let the magic happen (batch style). Also of note - the sidecar in no way affects the RAW file if you open with any other program.
Color control points - I have not used Nik-tools but this looks similar to the way that group works. You can edit a spot or color very easily and intuitively.
All camera settings are at hand - Being a Nikon product, changing picture control is easy as seeing what it would look like
Easy way back - In each section of editing you can return to "as shot" -- also of value if you just want to start over, right click the thumbnail and "revert to original state" is easy.
Linking another program to open a photo you are working with -- There is a tool bar button you can configure to "open in" if I need something in Affinity for example while running NX I can open the file in Affinity and continue. Noting - if working in RAW your changes in NX will not be there, this is most valuable in TIF or JPEG from the "last saved" point.
Plays nice to the PC -- I can have NX and Affinity running and working at the same time without issues (I have a modest PC as photo PC's go but do have 16gig memory 6 core FX processor, far from the latest)
Whats not there and negatives;
No layers - not that I am any good working with them but there is no layering
No Stacking
No watermarking - (such as easy signatures)
Sluggish when changing things -- This may be dependent on computer resources, but I have read about this in reviews also. Some patience is required when changing things, the most annoying is when you zoom in it takes some moments to "show" the photo. (the price of free I call it)
Exporting - It remembers what you last did, not necessarily "bad" but you have to re-assign a different folder for your export (just adds to my workflow, could be personal preference)
Summing up - Anyone curious should give it a test run. I like my combo of NX with Affinity. Affinity being extremely economical one time purchase, good updates, can use PS plugins. Affinity has a free trial option and still very economical at 55 dollars US outright (not a subscription) if you wish to take a look at that program.
Hope this helps