[morphios]

I think what everyone here is trying to say, is:

As an example, if the file system was to get bad sectors, the partition could easily show up as RAW. This does not mean that the actual data is gone, and can usually be sorted out by running a repair on the disk. Usually there would be no need for recovery software.

Comparing the previous example to something like accidentally running a low level format on a hard drive because you thought you unplugged the hard drive you wanted to save the information and swapped it with one you wanted to format because it came from a dodgy friend. Then to realize you formatted the wrong drive, only after the process has completed.
This scenario will need recovery software, lots of patience and a kung-fu hiding you give yourself as chances for successful recovery goes down, by a lot.

Now above example again but instead of a format, you by chance just deleted the partition and did not format the drive and at that point realized your mistake. Since the data that was on the drive was not shredded / written over with anything else, there is a fairly high chance for recovering the whole partition, in pretty much the same shape as it was.

So as the guys said above, and also the words used on a way too regular basis by IT guys... "It depends on quite a couple of factors", and that is why you won't get a straight answer to your question.

I apologize if you have already understood what was meant by the responses to your post. I have just found in the past that it's easier for someone to understand something if the answer is paired with an example or two.