>Note that the sharpening IS applied when adjusting the sliders in the detail panel, where it actually matters.

You must be running different software than I am. Using the detail panel and adjusting the sliders blurs the image and it does not unblur until you release the mouse and move it off the slider. In 4.0 and all previous versions you saw immediate changes to the slider movement, but now you don't know what you've done until you release and move off the slider. To be clear, I'm not a Windows user.

I've got just a bit of time left on the trial. I'd like to know if this is the way they plan on leaving it, as I'll just move on if that's the case. Sure glad I waited on this version and didn't pay for it yet.

I get a blurred image until I release and move my mouse off the slider in 4.1RC. Maybe this is only on the Mac end, I have no way of testing, but when I go back to 4.0 it works as it always has. I remember they tried this "hack" before and there was an outcry of complaints and they changed it back. I fear they are trying to pass it off on us again as it's an easy fix for speed issues.

I'm back in 4.0 now, working as expected. I hope they fix this before my trial runs out or I'll have to reformat to try it again. I'm not buying it until I know this is not the way it's going to be going forward.

Yes, using the sliders in the detail panel. Whether or not the exact method they previous used was this one, it still gives the same impression on the user end. I don't know the inner workings of Lr like you do. I just know how it reacts and this is just like they tried before, blurring the image with no feedback until releasing the mouse button.

I could be wrong about moving the mouse off the slider and it may just be when releasing the mouse, before the blurred image goes away and you see your changes. I trashed 4.1RC and am not going back to it to find out.

asu_chic, possibly try reinstalling 4.0, then re-download 4.1RC and install again. That's the procedure I just used and the problem is gone. Who knows, maybe they updated the 4.1RC without saying anything. I'm at a loss, but it works now as expected.

Oh yes, I recall seeing a post where Adobe is aware of a problem on Snow Leopard. I'm pretty sure it was posted on photoshop.com.

I'm on Lion.

Everything I'm referring to is using the Sharpening slider in the Detail panel.

By correctly I mean that now when I move the slider I see immediate feedback with no blurred image.

Previously, I saw a blurred image until I released my mouse.

asu_chic, so the reinstall fixed your issue also? Glad to hear that!