Comment by JKCalhoun

Many of the "old-timers" on the Photos team (when I was on that team for a couple of years) also missed Aperture. Very much so.

Many kept Aperture running on a device at home—still used it for their own workflows (many passionate photographers on that team—surprise!). And in fact when it came time to discuss future Photos features there was always a contingent pushing to add back features that were lost in the transition away from Aperture.

While I was there, for example, they pushed (and got) Curves added to the editing pane. Levels had always been there but the purists missed the more laser-focused "curve" adjustments.

They wanted, did not get, the ability to "brush" a setting (the way you might dodge/burn an area of the image).

These days, who knows. Like me, perhaps the old guard have moved on…

(To clarify though, I was never the "old guard" with regard to the Photos team—had never worked on Aperture.)