No, this is not a Canon vs Nikon debate Robert, but the facts and the truth are out there. Nikon was a pioneer in TTL flash metering through the lens, after Olympus did it first. Nikon invented the Matrix metering system with the Nikon FA, and the matrix was tuned for color NEGATIVE film. The ability to measure the exact RGB components of subjects is pretty easy for computers to do--and skilled photoshop workers can look at human skin tones and color-sample exact figures for precise Caucasian skin tone and quote you the R-G-and B values of average skin.
Canon's new 7D has figured out a way to circumvent Nikon's patented RGB measuring method....Canon is justifiably proud of its new 63-zone,color-, focus-, and luminosity-aware light metering. system.
Rob Galbraith DPI: Autofocus, video and more
"This analysis of brightness, colour and AF data in determining exposure has been given a name by Canon: iFCL. It's an acronym constructed from the words Intelligence, Focus, Colour and Luminosity." quote from above URL
The reason so,so many D90 users like Noyze are so pumped about their D90's is because the D90 represents 25 years of RGB light metering work,and 20 years worth of TTL flash metering work, and 10 years' worth of in-camera digital SLR image processing work; the D90 is designed to be the ultimate high-end point and shoot d-slr, and Nikon spent the first 7 years of the d-slr era outputting "safe", low-contrast, drecky-looking in-camera JPEGs, while the Olympus corporation OTOH, punched the daylights out of their color,and spits out SOOC JPEGs that the British girlie photographers ate up... FujiFilm's S3 Pro and S5 Pro also showed Nikon that hey, consumers LOVE punchy, in-camera,already processed JPEGs.
A few years back, Nikon SOOC JPEGs looked dull and ugly; Canon images were brighter, and more-processed. Nikon's D50 of 2005 was the first-ever Nikon to punch up the color. Now, with the D90, they've taken things up a notch. With an old D70, you would never blow a highlight, because the in-camera tone curve applied was so cautious Nikon protected the highlights, knowing full well that every pro would Photoshop-adjust the image. At the same time, Canon was more adventurous on cameras like the 20D, going "hotter" with the metering and image processing. I've been using d-slr's since 2001 with the Nikon D1 and moving through time, I have seen the d-slr go from the "professional's tool" to a highly-automated, much more capable camera with more automation and more computer processing. Look, Canon can identify/mitigate/reduce image noise with amazing ability, and they can do all sorts of great things with their huge manufacturing base and mega-size.
Canon's 7D is now being touted as having color-aware light metering. Look, a jumbo jet can fly itself on autopilot. Modern automation is incredible.
The more information the computer takes in, the better the outcome. The OP asked if a RAW could give him the benefits of a JPEG,and he has a D90; I answered his question with knowledge and truthfulness. This isn't a Canon vs Nikon war. If you want snappy SOOC JPEGS, buy an Olympus or look for a used Fuji S5 Pro and use the film simulation modes, or buy a D90 and let 25 years of the company's experience in matrix metering do the work. The D90 is meant as an amateur/hobbyist/P&S SLR that takes *great* pictures. It has a better image than the D300 did. The OP probably can not get the same end result by shooting raw. Why do pilots fly 80 percent of many flights on auto pilot? Are they stupid or incapable?
