I use 8051 for anything I do 8-bit as well.  There are an almost infinite variety of speed&#x2F;memory&#x2F;peripheral combos available, still comes in hobby-friendly packages, and vast libraries of code and solid dev tools.<p>Never could stomach PIC.  8051 is &#x27;quirky&#x27;; PIC is &#x27;wtf?&#x27;.  YMMV.