Hi Jim,
Yes,that’s a good example of underexposing at time of capture - and then “brightening” the image during processing … as a very useful approach for high-contrast scenes - and especially applicable to cameras with ISO-invariant sensors.
However, the problem is that the Smart Lighting algorithm in OpticsPro (via the OpticsPro9 mode of the Uniform method) produced a FAR, FAR better result, and a lot more easily than we are now able to get out of PhotoLab for the same underexposed images (since this algorithm was dropped from PL).
For more background on this, see here; Bemoaning loss of DxO Smart Lighting - Mode = OpticsPro9
And, to add your support to resurrection of this lost capability, see here: BUG: PL Smart Lighting has lost algorithm to process (purposefully) under-exposed images from ISO-Invariant sensors
John M