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I prefer CS3 but even with it comes 2 options, the limited Edition or the professional version which is what most photography institutions use. Its more flexible.
You can even apply the zone system when editing just for the that 100% quality and dynamic contrast

Hi OzNes

Are you going to be giving tips on Photoshop here - that would be extremely useful?!

Why not.
Class is in session. Module 1
Contrast is the most important aspect of your zone system because you dont want your highlights to be blown out and your shadows to lack detail. Always shoot 3 stops ahead of camera's zone zone system so that your whites are on zone 8 and your shadows on zone 3. This has a lot to do with your f stops, this only applies for when you are shooting on manual. Shooting on auto doesnt allow you to control your contrast and editing wont be as effect.

Using Photoshop, adjust your contrast through layers, open as many layers as possible to control every pixel indipendantly. Dont adjust your contrast on the contrast pallet. it exaggerates them.

When you done editing do an overall contrast adjustment layer to finalise your highlights and shadows before sharpening.

when saving your image set your pixels at 1000 to prevent your pixels from breaking, this also sharpens the picture and allows you to acquire an average size file with maximum sharpness and printing ability.

Editing
To prevent over doing your editing on photoshop make sure that you adjust your paint brushes opacity to 44, its not too harsh or too soft. When painting over a selected area letting go of the left click and clicking again then hold-resume painting doubles the opacity automatically.

Any more tips, OzNes, as the ones you have already covered are extremely useful!

Actually, I have a good friend is aspiring to be a professional photographer (he already does weddings and similar events), and he absolutely abhors doctoring his photos. He says that it is the greatest thrill when he knows he can achieve what an expert can, all because of his own skill, and not a program's abilities to fake it.

What is the general consensus out there: is it okay to doctor pictures, and if so, to what extent is acceptable? In other words, what amount or type of doctoring of a wildlife pic would be considered unethical or in bad taste?

Read the posts in this thread.

Morning onewithnature,
we've been discussing the question on another thread and you'll find a few examples of manipulations/corrections to pictures.
I work extensively with photoshop, both for personal and business, and can only say that there is a very thin thread between what is acceptable and what is not. As a rule I will doctor a picture up to a certain point and will stop when it means changing the physical aspect of a person. I refuse to make corrections that will make a person look different from reality, touching noses, eyes, ears and so on are off limits.
Colour corrections are acceptable as a general rule.

Thank you for that beautifully moralistic answer, Rumuruti! That is basically how I've felt about it; keep it as natural as possible, enhancing minor things that make the photo more visually striking.

Thanks joshilewis, for the link.