Ralph, firstly, I didn't score your question. So please refrain from rambling on - it makes you appear like a person possesed.

As for research - there is so much written about interfacing to the LCDs on the internet. Have you read the datasheet on one of these devices? Have you looked at the code from the project you're describing vs the code in the tutorial? Can you see anything common?

Put simply, the write to the lcd if it is bus interfaced is something like:

mov dptr,#LCD_COMMAND ;address of the LCD on the bus -usually 8000h or suchlike
mov a,#COMMAND
movx @dptr,a

whereas being bit bashed it is something like:

clr LCD_WR ;port pin for lcd R/W
clr LCD_RS ;port pin for lcd RS
mov a,#COMMAND
mov P2,a ;assuming the lcd data pins are connected to P2
setb LCD_EN ;port pin for E
nop
clr LCD_EN


As I said, there is a plethora of information and sample code out there, you just have to look for it.

I'm surprised you got the LCD to work using switches - the switch bounce usually messes everything up. Also, if you got the LCD to work via switches, you should be well aware of the sequence of signals to operate it - thus writing some code is dead easy.