They don't really operate differently, on the level that they can both record audio and MIDI, as well as edit and process but thats what very DAW does.
I dont really belive that there is "higher quality software" Both Pro Tools and Logic do exactly what reaper can do (unless your going for a Pro Tools HD rig, then you will notice differences). And don't jump aboard the "industry standard" crap becuase Pro Tools is used everywhere because It came about in a time where you really had no choice in digital audio software, and logic (since its really picked up a good name) is massive because most audio professionals use a mac system and since logic is now owned by apple (if you know any apple fanboys). . . people like apple made stuff. I use pro tools as my main DAW (cubase 2nd) and Ill tell you that thus far cubase has treated me alot better.
Its really the visuals/asthetics that make the difference and all that stuff is based on YOUR opinon, (Damien Hurst or De Vinci). In my opinon, I havn't used a program that works as well as pro tools, for recording audio and mixing, for me, It just works. Logic, in my opinion while the navigation of VI's is spot on, I just think its Pro Tools and Cubase stapled together making a very very medicore hybrid. But for MIDI Logic will burry Pro Tools. In my opinon of course.
Now where the "industry standard" DAWS come usfull is transfering work from 1 system to another. Eg: if you record a project in Pro tools at home and then go to another studio, (statisticly speaking) it will have Pro Tools, Plug in your hard drive, load the project. wham bam ya mam it's there. But if you record your song in cubase and then go to a studio that will (statisticly speaking) have pro tool you will be spending a few hours exporting and importing then rearanging, re editing blah blah blah the project just to get it to where it was. unless you use OMF file type but I don't know much of that
