...which is exactly the setting I'm using. Besides: I never have my camera set to "emdedded jpeg". So: that's not the explanation we are looking for.
FastStone Viewer cannot decode Canon 500D raw files, so whatever explanation you are looking for, you are comparing apples and oranges because you are not getting/seeing the raw photo in FastStone: you are seeing the embedded JPEG. FastStone uses dcraw just like Qimage, so if it
was showing you the actual raw, it'd look just like it does in Qimage without a profile... except for the fact that FastStone doesn't appear to be using the latest dcraw code which is why you get that magenta image when you decode the actual raw.
You are right - this looks better. Still (and I hope you're not offended) I think Qimage should treat the 500d RAW more neutral by default (as it did the 350d RAW); camera ICC profiles should be for getting from "good" to "outstanding", forgive me if I sound ungrateful Wink
I don't think you are being ungrateful, just unreasonable!
Seriously, dcraw is what it is: a tool that allows software (like Qimage) to decode raw files. If you don't like the "default" (no profile) color, you'd have to complain to David Coffin: author of dcraw. His default renditions are usually pretty good but for whatever reason, dcraw doesn't do that well in its current form with 500D raw photos. Most cameras only show subtle changes in color with a profile but for the 500D, there's a bigger change. I have no control over that because that's what dcraw has to offer. That's why Qimage is better than dcraw alone: it offers quality and control beyond the "standard" dcraw engine.
Mike