(1)
Its more than just extra I/O pins.

You overlook the fact that for most
low-end applications, a microcontroller
spends precious clocks and program memory
to scan and debounce a keypad, or send
data to a multiplexed LED display.
Just imagine, if the hardware takes care of
this, the cpu can take care of more
number-crunching tasks, and even the interrupts
can be put to better use.

(2)
another product i was going to suggest:

a PIC-Stamp without BASIC:

the Basic stamps are such a good idea,
because then you dont need to add a crystal oscillator
externally.
But the basic interpreter makes them costly, especially
for people who would rather program in assembly, than basic.
Imagine a BS-2 from Parallax without basic, but at half the price.
what a wonderful idea !!

-Ravindra.


>
> > I think a new 16C84 with a built in
> >
> > 4x4 key matrix scanner (74C922) and a
> > led display driver (MAX7219) would
> >
> > do extremely well in the market.
>
> Any PIC with at least 24 I/O pins should work for this application, though
> eight pins may need transistors to "boost" their outputs.  Other than boosting
> the sinking abilities of eight I/O pins, what else would you want as features?
>