I think I figured out one part of the disagreement.
Comparing a new 32 bit chip power consumption to an old 8 bit chip could be better, just like power consumption on a new 8 bit is better than the old 8 bits. This comparison would seem valid to someone that thinks 8 bit means old, and larger numbers in the part number means newer.
Old 8 bit didn't have power saving methods like XLP, mXLP, dose, suspect etc. Also microchip was smart with their new 8 bit product numbering just like the logic community. The low power version part numbers where associated with their original market numbers. Just like the J SL versions of logic. So with just these two lapses of reality, yes a valid argument can be made for 32bit power consumption.
I also noticed the disagreement changed from power consumption to power efficiency to cloud the point The one point that has validity for 32bit over 8bit is core voltage. This topic was not mentioned once. If Freescale is using 0.2v cores then yes they could be more efficient, until there is a 0.7v 8 bit chip. As to port efficiency if I am using a PCI32 interface yes a 32bit chip would be a great choice. But because of the drive to reduce design copper, intercommunication has been driven to serial, 4bit, 7bit, 8bit.
Cost debate. The 32bit market is very competitive with very low margins. One way to reduce costs is have a small active product span and evolving products. In the consumer disposable mentality this could make sense to some. In all other industries and many consumer goods sectors these methods are problematic. Microchip for example has taken a different approach. They support each chip until it is deemed not required by its partners. New chips are brought into the selection to satisfy new goals. This system costs more but works better because it supplies the right chip for the task and maintains designer confidence. They understand manufacturing and product life projections. Other companies I am less sure, (aka I don't know). Many be they all do understand but they have so few partners they can drop products faster.
If anyone thinks that part substitution is only based on pin out and function. I am not responding to you because you have already lost on this point. Evolving a current part without significant partner participation is a big problem, and may be disastrous to the lesser partners, and opportunity consumers. This is most likely you can still buy active products that are very close to the original design specs if not the same. Hint, if the product site says not recommended for new design. This means it is still active only because it is still needed to support previous designs. If you use the part in a new design with a mid to long life then you are asking for trouble. Other companies use this term for inactive products, Microchip uses the EOL term. This is why there are so many chip available from Microchip and other like minded companies.
Because of these factor yes you certainly find PICs that will use much more power than a low power 32bit variant. TI still makes original and J logic this doesn't mean that SL series don't exist. If you want to compare core efficiency select chips with equal core voltages. If you want to compare power efficiency compare equivalent classes. BTW due to the competitive market, marketing spins their figures. The truth is only revealed until the entire data-sheet of both are fully digested.
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