Is there a way to use the Develop Module ONLY in Lightroom?

You’ve talked about Camera Raw in Photoshop vs using Lightroom, but for the needs you stated, you might want to explore a third option: Using Camera Raw from within Adobe Bridge. Bridge is just a file browser, it does not create a catalog file like Lightroom Classic does, and it does not upload files to the cloud like Lightroom does.

If you don’t already know how to do this, here’s how it works:

1. Use Adobe Bridge to browse your files, and if you want to edit 25 raw images, select them, and choose File > Open in Camera Raw.

2. Camera Raw opens with a filmstrip of the 25 images, and what you are doing at this point is the equivalent of using only the Develop module in Lightroom Classic.

By running Camera Raw from Bridge, you can edit any number of files in Camera Raw without even opening Photoshop.

You cannot disable the Library module in Lightroom Classic, and you won't be able to work without using it.

Importing is done from the Library, it's where you view folders and thumbnails of images, and where you add keywords and ratings, and create collections, to name a few things.

And your images are not inside LrC, they are referenced in the catalog at their current location, so there is no additional storage. Ligtroom Classic is built around the catalog, which is a database that stores edits and metadata.

You can download a free Quick Start eBook here: (requires that you create a free account)

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/members/free-membership/classic-free-ebook/

Another good resource is Julianne Kost's training videos –

https://jkost.com/blog/lightroom-training-videos

You need to ask program questions in the forum for the program you are using
To ask in the forum for your program please start at https://community.adobe.com/
Moving from Using the Community (which is about the forums) to the correct forum