>         Is Digikey the best place to call if I want 5 to 10 16C84's, give
> or take a few depending upon price?  What should I expect to pay?

Yes.  I just bought 10 pieces of PIC16F84-04/P from them for $5.45 each.
I really wanted the 10 MHz parts, but they were out of stock at the time.
Right now their web server claims that they have the PIC16CF84-10I/P (10 MHz,
industrial temperature range) for $6.43.

>         Should I ask for a 16C84 or a 16F84?  No point in buying something
> that is already going away.

16F84.  More RAM, lower price!

Cheers,
Eric