Hi Dave,
I'm basically in the same boat, I use a bootloader for almost everything where an USART is available, it's just so convenient. Regarding Mecanique, I use MCSP and MCLoader all the time but I'm concidering the product dead - it is what it is and it what's avaialble now is what we'll get.

I seem to remember there was something wrong/weird with the settings for the 25K22, perhaps the same thing applies to the 26K22. I don't remeber exactly where I found the information but here are a couple of links, perhaps you've seen them both, perhaps you haven't.
http://digital-diy.com/forum/chit-ch...ader-t666.html
http://digital-diy.com/forum/amicus-...der-t1300.html

There's also a sample PBP program on the DS30 loader download page.

I placed an Digikey order yesterday, if I'd knew I would include a 26K22....

Good luck and please keep us updated!

/Henrik.