I am reading but too busy to respond as this is a very complex topic. I would suggest that English is failing and the language of math would be more useful.

In the parlance of matmatic, we linearize (anti-gamma correct) using AGC(image or color) and we do final gamma correction using GC(color).

We all know that:

GC(AGC(color)) = color

not a surprise.

You also know:

GC(Diffuse(AGC(color))) != Diffuse(color)

This is very succinctly saying what required a ton of words.

Here, I think you will find a surprise:

color * GC(Diffuse(WHITE)) = GC(Diffuse(AGC(color))

I will let you ponder the implications of that for a while. It fascinated me when I understood the implications.

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Renderosity forum reply notifications are wonky. If I read a follow-up in a thread, but I don't myself reply, then notifications no longer happen AT ALL on that thread. So if I seem to be ignoring a question, that's why. (Updated September 23, 2019)