imho - some of the posts here within this thread are on a very theoretical level - but have nothing to do with final resulting images.
Since i'm at least middle-aged - i know b&w film processing. I haven't done it very long, but i would say i know its limitations and how far you can go (and what's not possible).
I digged into digital imaging with the original X100 (btw. that was when i became "passionate" about fotografy).
My first ~1000 pics i was accidentally trashing RAW, only keeping JPGs. After that, i always kept both JPG & RAW (if the pics "deserved" it).
As a X-Pro1 early adopter and former Aperture user, i could process only JPGs for quite a log time (at least it felt like).
Nowadays i use Lightroom and have a pretty good idea about the limitations of RAW processing (and i have an X-Pro2).
So far about the intro :-)
My point is: If you're not failing in the exposure - even a JPG already provides very useful reserves.
Sure: There are cases were you missed proper exposure and want to rescue - and with Lightroom on a RAW you can rescue A LOT.
And there are light situations which are so dynamic that your tempted to screw extensively. However - 8 of 10 guys usually fail and end up with something that looks so artifical which lets me suddenly think about the self-help group for pseudo-HDR-freaks. (scnr)
I love the Acros film simulation! For me it is a clear unique selling proposition (UPS) - actually this is generally true for Fujifilms JPG engine.
Acros doesn't fit always perfectly for what i want - but it *is* really easy to add some "extra bits" (for instance with RNI presets).
Just to make sure: i also use different approaches - besides Acros - i'm open to use many different tools.
But: If i like the result of the Acros JPG engine - why should i try to reproduce the same with a RAW? What's the point? Would it make me feel better to know that i would have much more "buffer" with a RAW development? The answer is: No, not at all.
One of *the* awesome things about the Acros film simulation is the ISO dependent grain - and the grain looks really nice (no comparison to any other "digital grain" i have seen before ... if we want to pixel-peep). I haven't printed Acros simulations based pics yet, but i will do it soon, and what i've heard and read about yet is very promising.
My recommendation to the thread opener: Just enjoy the Acros results, combine it with appropriate DR usage, forget about what you've done with RAWs, try out what's possible with the JPG.
For me, Acros especially shines on high ISO on nightly shots on the street!
To the physicist and math genius (which has turned into a guest): Rather go taking pictures and use less time on the software - and do not mix up processing tools knowledge with fotografic skills.