Next I want to learn the nuts & bolts of C code, again, at least enough to be skeletally functional.
every time I compile with xc8 I get this charming statement

You have compiled in FREE mode.
Using Omniscient Code Generation that is available in PRO mode,
you could have produced up to 60% smaller and 400% faster code.
See http://www.microchip.com/MPLABXCcompilers for more information.
its almost as if they want you to feel bad and use arduino's instead ,I won't pay $1000 for whats now just a hobby.