Another vote for C1. When I first got my M8, I could not be bothered to learn C1 v3.7.7, so carried on using ACR and was getting horrible colour fringing, particularly on things like fountains etc. Someone on LC forum suggested I change to C1 and I was amazed at the disappearance of colour fringes. I have found that C1 just gets better and better although there continue to be stability problems on Macs and upgrades can screw everything up, meaning you have to do a remove all files, app support and plist files before reinstalling. However, I firmly believe it is best used solely as a RAW converter and the other bits are best left alone. I use iPhoto plus iPhoto library manager as my image library and PS CS4 for everything else and printing. I could never get along with LR and although I think Aperture is a great program, I don't think the end results on M8 files are as good as C1 + PS.
At around the end of this year, I should be able to afford either a 24 Lux or a new Nocti but definitely not both. I can't make up my mind which to go for. I suppose the best thing is to try and arrange loaners and see which "rings my bell loudest". I suppose I could afford a 24 Lux plus CV 50/1.1 but my personal experience on CV lenses has been so poor, I am wary of trying for a 4th time -I thought it might be 3rd time lucky but no.
Wilson