Anderton

Sanderxpander
 Melodyne is an interesting choice, I should try it more often for these duties. It's not always just a vocal though, and not always on a per note basis, so again the use is pretty specific.

 
Percussive mode is very different. It's also what allows you to transpose entire chords, even if you're only using Essential. Based on your description of how you like to work, I think you might find Melodyne "the best of all worlds."
 

I'm quite familiar with Melodyne's modes, I just mean that it's not as easy to do adjustments that aren't note/blob based. Sometimes I'll need to fade the point of a note after the attack, etc.
Yes, I know Melodyne has an attack speed control etc.
But the point is it's pretty useful to use gain envelopes for these things. I have no problem with the workflow. The only reason we got into this whole discussion was because I said I would like it if the boosting range were a bit higher. 12 or 15 dB should cover most needs. In the 24-bit age it's quite common to get very dynamic recordings and have a lot of headroom. I could slice and adjust whole words/syllables/notes but sometimes that doesn't work as well as an envelope.
 
So for now I'll use the numerous workarounds I have and I hope the clip gain envelope boosting range will be expanded in the future. Other DAW makers seem to think it sensible too and usually these things even out after a while.