I think I may have FINALLY processed this shot right!!!!! C&C

Obviously it depends among other things on your monitor a lot here, but my personal preference is the first attempt. It does look underexposed though. I can't help wondering how it would look if you combined just the brightest of the three RAWs with the darkest, then simply blended between them as if you'd used a grad filter.

I suppose whether or not that would be successful depends on the EV difference, but it might avoid too much pulling up or shadows or pulling down the highlights.

--
Beauty and folly are old companions.