Wow! This place sure changed over night.

I think everyone makes great points from their own particular perspective. And bottomline as already stated, feel free to use what ever compiler or tools that suit you best. I also realize that it is a fundamental aspect of human nature to: resist change, hate starting over, or leave something behind. But sometimes you gotta do it, especially when the change will greatly ease your burden. However, constantly changing the tools you work with in order to have the latest, greatest thing out there, may be good for retailers, but a lot of times only results in lost productivity for the individual or company.

I remember this machinist guy I worked with several years ago who had the most awesome, gigantic, cadillac of tool boxes stuffed with every tool imaginable. No matter how many tools he had, he would always be the first guy standing outside when the Snap-on truck arrived, drooling over what other new tool he could buy. There was also this other machinist who worked at the same place, who had a tool chest with only a handfull of drawers, filled with a carefully selected assortment of what were obviously well used tools. I think you know where I am going with this story. Anyway, between these two different machinists, the one with the small assortment of tools, was also the one that could not only out produce the other individual, but also produced the highest quality products. Not to say this is always the case, and not that the opposite scenario most likely exists. But sometimes people really do get caught up in their tools, instead of what they're trying to build. I think Melanie has made a similar point, not only here, but in other forums as well.

Final point: We probably all still use hammers and manual screwdrivers, even though there are more advanced powered versions to be had (of which we might own as well, and use as well).

On a lighter note, I invite you all to see something very cool that is evolving over in this forum Embedded Strings in Your Code Space
This is really what this forum should be about. Making the best of what you have, and working together to make it even better.