Just looking for an explanation

[Demon]

Comparing the generated Assembler code might give more clues.

Robert

[Art]

Yes the generated assembler would be smaller.
An example of two BASIC IF...THEN comparisons in assembler

@ movf		_Variable	,W	'IF Variable = $A0 THEN...
@ sublw		0xA0			'subtract comparison
@ btfss		status		,Z	'test if result is zero
// condition is here

@ movf		_Variable	,W	'IF Variable = $00 THEN...
@ btfss		status		,Z	'test if result is zero
// condition is here

You are always testing for zero, helps if the comparison is zero!