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There's lots of other factors besides compiler support and cost. There are some PIC devices with extreme low-power states that ARM can't really touch.

It's also pretty common for special-purpose devices to include a small general purpose core. For example the TI CC2541 BTLE module includes an 8051.

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Good point re: general purpose cores in devices whose primary purpose is other things. I've been spoiled by the ability to choose parts that don't go quite so retro for the CPU in my own designs.

Regarding power, is the difference all that great? some googling shows that there are cortex M3 devices that use 0.3 uA in standby. Do the PICs have some features that make standby mode more useful, or do they have significantly lower power draw in sleep mode?

I've never had to deal with low power draw in standby/sleep mode outside of FPGA-based designs, so I'm curious to know whats out there.

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