> for people who want an easy way into embedded programming, it's
> probably the best mix of ease of use and cost

Yes, you make some good and obvious points. Maybe I'm just
being a bit of a snob. I've mixed feelings about them. As you say,
an easy introduction to micros, but is it explained that they are
actually micros and that running code through an interpreter is to
some extent dumbing them down ? I worry about modern school
kids having the attention span of gnats and needing to be led by
the hand. I'm trying to teach a couple of teenage relatives about
PICs and I think they initially found hard work and thinking somewhat
of a shock. (I harken back to the Channel 4 series That'll Teach 'em).
But then again, exposure to something like the PICAXE, however
wasteful I might consider it, at least is a toe in the water. If the chip
does the job and everybody's happy, who am I to judge ?

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