This question was put by a "new to slr" photographer ,the other day,and she said that if the cameras where so good,why did everyone "cheat" in putting there work through editing progs when in the days of film you just sent the film away and got it back untouched. ,,A very good reply was put by a long time photographer, Whom said, " When you sent your film away to the lab,there where and are sevral processes that it goes through and contrast and colour are played with and sevrall other procedures.So the only difference today is "you" have the choice of doing ,or not,as the case may be, yourself.
So there is more controle over the pics by the taker.
and it,s a very big debate ,how far you alter them and when you go beyond that point ?that turns into artistic license,instead of art...

PS, I tweak the contrast and must admit,the clone tool can get rid of some intruding objects very nicely.