How best to handle FZ200 RAW files? As simply as possible?

Nice touch, Morepix.  I'm sure Mike is feeling much better about asking a question on the forum now . . .

MIKE:   FWIW.... I use Corel PaintShop ProX4 for most of my initial processing.  I also have Photoshop CS5, but find I mostly use it for images that I know are going to need much more sophisticated processing.  I downloaded the free version of NeatImage, but I've found that Corel does at least as good a job with noise reduction as NI.  Corel just came out with PaintShip ProX5, and they are offering it for the Black Friday price of only $29 (regular $79)!  It actually has some very sophisticated editing features, equivalent to Photoshop.  I don't know why more people do not use it.  The only downside to Corel, is that is seems to handle the RAW files from all cameras EXCEPT panasonic!  Therefore, I still have to use SilkyPix to convert the panny RAW files to .TIFF (or JPG) in order for Corel to handle them.  Morepix is right about one thing, however: any of these programs do require some time to learn to use, but for $29, you could not really go wrong with at least trying Corel - IMHO.