PIC declining?

I noticed the PIC's offered by a few of the suppliers is declining. Atmel, Phillips, Freescale and group of newer chips are being offered. Considering price, PIC's seem to have the rest beat. What is the trend about? A year ago a company I was working with dropped the PIC's and redesigned with the Atmel base. The reason for the switch was "better architecture" and not cost. The engineering group were firm believers in open source and didn't have much regard for MS systems. This seems a common dividing line. I just flow with it.

the truth is that Microchip don't pay regular parts supliers as TI, Atmel, Freescale and tons of newbie brand actually do.

Microchip have their advantage, others too.

I actually use Ti, PICs, Atmel, Freescale and test drive few others. Each have their own advantages.... and there's this new stupid development package/tool debate and fight. You can have a full development package for < 20 USD now... but .. hum hum that's not something really serious... just attractive.

What make the real power is the human behind it, not much.