Chris -

For my particular workflow, I try and maintain non-destructive editing so that I can go back and tweak or reprocess images as needed. I keep my NEFs and their image parameters (I'm using LR) and treat any jpeg or tiff generation as transient files - not backed up or tracked in my catalog as I can regenerate them from the master data at any time.

When I want to use an image filter such as Nik or Topaz, I create a smart object in Photoshop, apply the filter and save back to Lightroom as a PSD. In this way, I can reopen and tweak the filter parameters at a later date without losing any of the editing chain. The PSD is now considered the master image and is backed up accordingly.

As such, the compromises I see in passing TIFF images around to numerous programs is the additional complexity of keeping track of the versions, difficulty re-editing the photos at a later date, and dealing with the additional files and file sizes. Now, workflow is a personal thing and everyone has different needs, so my example is just that.

FWIW, my Lightroom defaults (not presets) include Camera Standard and ISO specific sharpening and noise reduction along with a bit of clarity and vibrance added. It makes for a reasonable starting point upon import.

Paul
My Nikonians Gallery