As a confirmed Paint Shop Pro user I have never considered PSE to be an equal ... it is possible that the latest versions are but early ones were very sub-PSP, sub-anything. Have always imagined that Adobe were protecting Photoshop because PSP is/was equal to PS for most people. It is just I believe that PS were first on the market and established an early lead so today are the gold standard. Another angle is that they started with a format and would upset existing customers if they went for a more freindly one. But PS users probably know no different and live with it
On learning exercises ... if you harden an image too far and get white edges to dark areas .... go around with a one pixel tool and copy adjacent tone to cover it ... did it once![]()