Steve,

I can get by w/ 12 bit, just I'd like better. However, it looks like I will have to divide the analog down so there is that loss which is magnified when I multiply it back up to display (just trying to display the actual voltage of the incoming analog).

I'd since seen the page here about 7 line LCD control but I think I can now use the simpler 11 line method. I have 8 analogs and there may be three or fours discrete states associated with each, set by jumpers on the board. I can pass all these to the controller via a selector switch. I just would have to find one with 8 inputs to a common terminal, and then one that was "stackable" so I could get the three or four things per analog. I don't know if anything like that exists for a surface level type device. I know you can get big honking switches but board level I have no idea.