Lightroom can be very useful for a hobbyist who shoots RAW, especially for organizing, editing, and learning a consistent workflow. But based on the answers here, it isn’t strictly necessary.

A good free alternative is darktable, which offers RAW editing and many advanced features. If your goal is simply to process RAW files well without spending money, that may be enough.

If you like Adobe’s workflow, Lightroom is still a strong choice and many photographers find it worth it. One suggestion from the community is to try the free trial first so you can see whether its tools and interface suit you before paying.

So the short answer is: no, Lightroom is not required for a hobbyist, but it can absolutely be worth it if you prefer its workflow and want a polished editing/cataloging toolset.