PIC are hard to beat for scalability.
Check out the real details instead of just guessing.
The development toolsets are consistent across 8-bit, 16-bit, DSP, and
32bit lines.
I admit that i have not studied PIC in particular, but i am looking
for almost any platform that has truly scaled over that range.
MIPS Nearly successful, but fell into disuse. Never
was 8 bit
SPARC came closer, still did not make it, never was 8 bit
X86 almost works right, never really was 8 bit, has
64 bit now
AVR maybe the closest? Was it ever 8 bit?
68K scaled from 16 to 32 bit, never was 8 bit
HP-PARISC scaled from 16 to 64, never was 8 bit
DSPs None were ever 8 bit, 12, 16, 24, and 32 bit (FP)
DEC Alpha Started as 32/64 bit
DG uNova Started as 32 bit, is gone now.
NS32000 Started as 16 bit, hit 32 bit, is all but gone now
SH* Seems to make the grade also, has some 64 bit.
65XXX 8 and 16 bit only
many others 8 bit only
many others 16 bit only
This list is surely partial at best.
You really haven't investigated this properly have you?
PIC have everything from a tiny 8 bit 5 pin job through to huge 32bit
DSP's, and the toolsets and interface are consistent across the entire
line.
Really?
PIC will be able to do anything you ever want, both professionally and
for hobby.
Really?
Microchip have sold *billions* of PICs to industry, hobby sales would
represent a ridiculously small percentage of that.
Look at the high end 32bit PICs:
Like why? If i need 32 bits it is not really a microcontroller any
more. Besides i might like or have more experience with AVRs or SH2,
SH3, SH4, SH5, and thus find them more convenient.