Here are some new ideas.
1) Using the skin material
This is a bit creepy, but I thought it might work since you would like to see different layers of the material (e.g. the strong white effect on the edges, darker color in the inside).
2) Simulating the Legacy Mtl translucency with Physical Mtl
You can use the Layered Material for this. First, set up the material that will represent the medium (volumetric component) of the material - opacity 0, brownish color for scattering. Use this as the base layer of a Layered Mtl.
Then create a new material and set it up as the surface layer (top layer of the Layered Mtl). You can enable translucency here, and it will work pretty much like the Legacy Mtl from my previous example, but with the benefits of using the Physical Mtl such as better looking reflections.
3) Using a similar Layered Mtl setup again, but this time with rough refraction instead of translucency.
I also have a general note:
I understand that you are frustrated, because you are not able to get the effect you are after, but please note that comments like this are not welcome. If you are experiencing some issues, please explain what exactly is happening so that the community/team can help you. Such comments can lead to simply ignoring your posts, as they do not sound serious. Please bare in mind that Corona developers worked really hard on implementing all the features, and that their work is often based on years of research by themselves and other people:
Simple SSS is rediculous! Make me laugh. It doesn't work for solid objects.
I still think there is a lot to be improved in SSS, everything looks waxy IMO. Simple SSS in Corona is ridiculous. I don't see a purpose for use it.
the tool needs to be better and more intuitive
SSS (poor funcionality) and Volumetrics have confusing parameters
the simple SSS in Corona are very bad IMO
Even Modo crap can be better in Render times for SSS
The effect is to weak and we should be able to go further than the 100% in order to achieve a more real visual representation.
As you correctly noted, Corona is mainly targeted towards archviz. V-Ray is more flexible and it is easier to achieve fakes in it, most probably including what you called "enhancing over 100%". Feel free to use the V-Ray trial, or contact our support at
https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/requests/new We will be happy to discuss the use cases and limitations of both Corona and V-Ray.