I don't understand what you mean by your comment,
"
That can be true, but how many posts have you seen where known defective designs (e.g. "you do not need a MAX232") have been touted as good because they work".
"

Having a MAX232 or similar in the circuit primarily makes it more expensive. Now, a capacitorless version might be appealing, but they cost as much as the '232 with its passives.

If you have a bipolar 12-volt supply available, it's pretty easy to get by without a MAX232 or the like. In fact, if you have those supplies available, there's seldom a need for the second transmitter/receiver pair, so you can use a 75155.

Now, I'm not in love with the 16C550, and, in fact, I like the small-package UART offered in the SCC2691 (Philips).

Nevertheless, if I have a 16C550, I won't wait until I find a 2691 before proceeding. I don't see what makes one any harder to code than the other, or in any sense "better" aside from the package, and that's a convenience issue rather than a quality issue.

RE