If you subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud, you do not own the software that you download and if you fail to make a monthly payment, the software is automatically de-activated. As far as I know, Lightroom 6 and Photoshop CS6 were the last versions that you could purchase outright on a DVD.
I use version 5 of both, and convert all of my Nikon and Canon and Fujifilm RAW files to DNG format using Adobe DNG Converter, before I import them into Lightroom. I prefer the DNG format to the NEF because the Lightroom edits are imbedded into the RAW file - there is no XMP sidecar file. DNG files are also slightly smaller than NEF or CR2 files. I have made very large prints (24x36") from both file types converted to Tiff, from the same original NEF file and there is no visible difference.
Nikon's ViewNX software as packaged with some cameras (D7000, D5100 and others) was faulty and crashed. The version that is available as a download from the Nikon website now works well, as does Capture NX-D, but neither are as easy to use as Lightroom once you know your way around Lightroom. Lightroom and Photoshop (CS or Elements) go hand-in-hand. Neither can replace the other.
Google have made their Nik Effects Pro plugin suite for Photoshop and Lightroom available as a free download. Once learned, they are excellent and a great time saver.