OMG, I'm such an idiot! And what is the best, at first I haven't touched the RCIE bit at all, I thought checking the RCIF would be enough. But as I wasn't able to capture any data (god knows what I've messed up then) I've "brilliantly" concluded that the program is not registering data arrival because the RCIF is not being set due to RCIE off. So I switched it on and fell into something which, until your explanation, I didn't understand enough to even try to mess with... Bah, I must be carrying a vapour instead of a brain in my head to poke with things for which I have no adequate apprehension.

Thank you very much, I really appreciate you took the time to help me with this.