Compressed RAW + M-series: Has the RAW game changed for good?

Hey everyone,

I’m Chris O'Brien, Key Grip. We just wrapped a short film where we shot a lot on an ALEXA Mini, but the B-cam was a C70, and I’m really thinking about this stuff. I’ve always understood that shooting RAW meant bigger files, more expensive storage, and heavier post-production demands, basically a lot more time and money. That’s why we usually went ProRes 4444 on anything but the absolute top-tier gigs.

Now, with formats like BRAW becoming so prevalent, and watching editors churn through footage on their M-series Macs without breaking a sweat, it feels like the traditional 'cost' of RAW has dropped significantly. It used to be a massive decision, especially for smaller projects or if you were renting gear like a KOMODO-X.

So, from a practical, on-set and post-production standpoint, how has the evolution of compressed RAW formats and powerful integrated chips like Apple's M-series genuinely altered the cost-benefit analysis for shooting RAW in the last few years? Is it now basically a no-brainer for most productions?