> Giving the topic diversion some legitimacy, you would not be able to
> experiment with large PICs which are in QFN or TQFP packages if
> perf board was your only mounting option
>

Right.  I would have thought that the shift from through hole to
surface mount would lead to a resurgence of DIY pcbs, not their death,
but who am I to say?  Regardless, I am often a "late abandoner" (as
opposed to an early adopter).

Nevertheless, after the extensive discussion here I am inclined to
utilize one of the many permutations of perfboard mentioned earlier
for simpler prototypes.  I think I may still etch and drill my own
PCBs for more extensive prototypes, if only so that when my children
are older I can say things like "When I was younger, we used to etch
our own PCBs!  And the components had wires sticking out of them that
we stuck through HOLES!"

Thanks to all for an interesting discussion.

-Eric
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