Excuse my bad English. So I understand only the half of your message.


"to have separate code/data"

I like this, since it avoid corrupting the executables
and give a more stable working application.
Its also a must on bigger machines and operating
systems (UNIX).


"you disdain tru bi-di?"

No, but the other make life many time easier
and safer (never fighting 2 drivers with consuming some 100mA
and causing latch up).
Only at high speed tru bi-di make sense.


"there is no such thing as a "trick" with microprocessors...only logic."

I understand, that "rst10" was equal to a call.
But I see no big advantage, only that some code bytes saved.


"so if the core is so unimportant to you"

Sorry, this was influence of my current working and thinking.
I go today in direction C and like the 8051 even more.
Since I have never seen a such compact code generated
on other architectures.


A word to your missed conditional calls and returns.
Yes, its easy, to do so, if only 4 flags can be the condition.
But on the 8051 there are 256 flags (JB, JNB, JBC)
and 256 bytes (DJNZ, CJNE A,) available for conditional
jumps.
Its also in order to the optimized architecture of the 8051,
since a call waste time and stack space in respect to a jump.


Yes, if Zilog has introduced a Z80 core with ROM, RAM
and peripherals as early as Intel the 8051, it could be,
we all now used Z80.
But I agree with Jay, its all over now.



Peter