Yes, MikroBasic is the IDE, it can program chips provided you have a board supported by it, its code used though is similar but it does not use PBP as its code core. it uses MikroBasic similar but also different. there are some cool ways it uses its code that just puts PBP to shame, however its not what I started with and PBP was, so now I am a PBP guy
also PBP is pretty much a standard if your not using C or ASM. neither of which I know.

Just a FYI, I talked to one guy online that said I should be able to modify my Chip ID file to add new chips but he was unsure how to do it, I opened my chip.id file in the programming software in notepad, it has all the chips listed with alot of data for each one, here is the info for the 18F4550 chip, perhaps i could make a new entry for a new chip?

CHIPname=18F4550
INCLUDE=Y
KITSRUS.COM=40pin
EraseMode=4
FlashChip=Y
PowerSequence=VccVpp1
ProgramDelay=10
ProgramFlag2=1
PanelSizing=05
CoreType=bit16_B
ROMsize=004000
EEPROMsize=00000100
FUSEblank=CF3F 1F3F 8700 00E5 C00F E00F 400F
CPwarn=N
CALword=N
BandGap=N
ICSPonly=N
ChipID=1200
LIST1 FUSE1 "USBPLL" "Divide by 2"=FFFF "No Divide"=FFDF
LIST2 FUSE1 "CPUDIV" "Div/6 wPLL, Div/4"=FFFF "Div/4 wPLL, Div/3"=FFF7 "Div/3 wPLL, Div/2"=FFEF "Div/2 wPLL, NO Div"=FFE7
LIST3 FUSE1 "PPLDIV" "Osc/12 (48Mhz)"=FFFF "Osc/10 (40Mhz)"=FFFE "Osc/6 (24Mhz)"=FFFD "Osc/5 (20Mhz)"=FFFC "Osc/4 (16Mhz)"=FFFB "Osc/3 (12Mhz)"=FFFA "Osc/2 (8Mhz)"=FFF9 "No Divide (4Mhz)"=FFF8
LIST4 FUSE1 "OSCSEN" "Disabled"=FFFF "Enabled"=DFFF
LIST5 FUSE1 "Oscillator" "HS OSC w/PLL, HS used by USB"=FFFF "HS osc, HS used by USB"=FCFF "Intrn osc, HS used by USB"=FBFF "Intrn osc, XT used by USB"=FAFF
LIST6 FUSE2 "VREGEN" "Enabled"=FFFF "Disabled"=FFFD
LIST7 FUSE2 "Brownout Voltage" "2.0V"=FFFF "2.7V"=FFFB "4.2V"=FFF7 "4.5V"=FFF3
LIST8 FUSE2 "Brownout Detect" "Enabled"=FFFF "Disabled"=FFFD
LIST9 FUSE2 "Powerup Timer" "Disabled"=FFFF "Enabled"=FFFE
LIST10 FUSE2 "Watchdog Timer" "Enabled"=FFFF "Disabled"=FEFF
LIST11 FUSE2 "Watchdog Postscale" "1:32768"=FFFF "1:16384"=FDFF "1:8192"=FBFF "1:4096"=F9FF "1:2048"=F7FF "1:1024"=F5FF "1:512"=F3FF "1:256"=F1FF "1:128"=EFFF "1:64"=EDFF "1:32"=EBFF "1:16"=E9FF "1:8"=E7FF "1:4"=E5FF "1:2"=E3FF "1:1"=E1FF
LIST12 FUSE3 "MCLRE" "Enabled"=FFFF "Disabled"=7FFF
LIST13 FUSE3 "LPT1OSC" "LOW Power Mode"=FFFF "High Pwr Mode"=FBFF
LIST14 FUSE3 "PBADEN" "AD 4:0 Reset=Analog"=FFFF "AD 4:0 Reset=Digital"=FDFF
LIST15 FUSE3 "CCP2MX" "MUC RC1"=FFFF "MUC RE7/RB3"=FEFF
LIST16 FUSE3 "ECCMUX" "ENH CCP1 RE6 3"=FFFF "ENH CCP1 RH7 4"=FDFF
LIST17 FUSE4 "XINST" "Enabled"=FFFF "Disabled"=FFBF
LIST18 FUSE4 "Low Voltage Program" "Enabled"=FFFF "Disabled"=FFFB
LIST19 FUSE4 "Stack Overflow Reset" "Enabled"=FFFF "Disabled"=FFFE
LIST20 FUSE5 "BOOT ROM Protect" "0000-01FF Disabled"=FFFF "0000-01FF Enabled"=BFFF
LIST21 FUSE5 "ROM Protect" "0200-1FFF Disabled"=FFFF "0200-1FFF Enabled"=FFFE
LIST22 FUSE5 "ROM Protect" "2000-3FFF Disabled"=FFFF "2000-3FFF Enabled"=FFFD
LIST23 FUSE5 "ROM Protect" "4000-5FFF Disabled"=FFFF "4000-5FFF Enabled"=FFFB
LIST24 FUSE5 "ROM Protect" "6000-7FFF Disabled"=FFFF "6000-7FFF Enabled"=FFF7
LIST25 FUSE5 "EEPROM Protect" "Disabled"=FFFF "Enabled"=7FFF
LIST26 FUSE6 "BOOT Table Write Protect" "0000-01FF Disabled"=FFFF "0000-01FF Enabled"=BFFF
LIST27 FUSE6 "ROM Table Write Protect" "0200-1FFF Disabled"=FFFF "0200-1FFF Enabled"=FFFE
LIST28 FUSE6 "ROM Table Write Protect" "2000-3FFF Disabled"=FFFF "2000-3FFF Enabled"=FFFD
LIST29 FUSE6 "ROM Table Write Protect" "4000-5FFF Disabled"=FFFF "4000-5FFF Enabled"=FFFB
LIST30 FUSE6 "ROM Table Write Protect" "6000-7FFF Disabled"=FFFF "6000-7FFF Enabled"=FFF7
LIST31 FUSE6 "EEPROM Table Write Protect" "Disabled"=FFFF "Enabled"=7FFF
LIST32 FUSE6 "CONFIG Table Write Protect" "Disabled"=FFFF "Enabled"=DFFF
LIST33 FUSE7 "BOOT Table Read Protect" "0000-01FF Disabled"=FFFF "0000-01FF Enabled"=BFFF
LIST34 FUSE7 "ROM Table Read Protect" "2000-3FFF Disabled"=FFFF "2000-3FFF Enabled"=FFFD


I'm not sure what i would have to do to add a chip, it looks complicated. It would probobly be easier to just upgrade

As far as usb, I do alot with laptops and none that I use have serial ports, but has plenty of USB. and Since I have tons of 18F4550's might as well use that option. I dont know how to use usarts either so it may be easier to start with USB. i know I could use a exteral usb to serial converter but I prefer not to.

I did send a message to that guy selling the chips on ebay, he revised his price, he said he ment to type that it was supposed to be $20 with $5 s&h for a total of $25, so he fixed it.
Not sure If I will get any of these kits, but I checked my list of supported chips and all of them are on there.