With LDD Being Discontinued I've elected to migrate to LDraw and would like some help

[Hamish Grace]

The LDraw vs LDD discussion depends a lot on ones perspective and requirements.

This is true.

LDD is missing lots and lots of parts, it does not support custom parts or stickers, it does not allow free placement of parts, management of larger models seems tricky (I think, maybe I haven't found the right way)

larger models sure are super hard to do, yes.  LDraw apps are a lot better at this.
LDD is missing a lot of parts, both current runs and everything discontinued, this is half the reason I'm here.

the graphics are really bad and I haven't even started talking about the user interface or workflow here.

are we talking the UI?  because lol.  Just.. so much lol.
The 'render' tool in LDD sucks for sure, but there are exporters for POV-Ray and the likes too.

Collision detection is something I specifically do not want in an editor. I want to be the one making the decision if I can place a part or not because there are techniques that should work but do not in real life, others are considered illegal by LEGO but work just fine.

This I understand.  I have on many occasions 'fought the system', as Roland puts it.  But I have also relied on it when filling gaps and checking moving pieces too.

An option to limit bricks to "official" colors is problematic as well. What is an official color anyway? Is it what LEGO is producing right now? Is it anything LEGO has ever made? Do you want to include test runs or color combinations that were made for LEGOLAND etc. but never released in any set?

the answer to any of those questions is of course also answerable with:  'Do I want to have a spreadsheet open on the side to check if a part colour actually exists all the time'.

I guess I'm just not the type for LDraw.