[Dave Canon]

I believe this heavy manipulation is for the publishing market where they want this style. If you are a professional photographer and a professional model, then surely it is fine as they are beeing paid.

However, for personal portraits you are about right. A retired professional photographer told me that he had always slightly enhanced such portraits but only once in his career had overdone it. A lady client had a well worn face which he softened but she explained that it was no longer her. She had been in the army and since always involved in outward bound courses etc. and the craggy outdoor look was who she was. Of course he then replaced the photographs.