I'm not talking about an audio-DAC chip attached to a MCU. I'm talking about the most basic of analog designs that would transmit data over 4-20mA (just controlling an OpAmp + Transistor passing some currents).

By the time you add that SPI-DAC to your design, you've spent more than any TI (MSP430, MSP erm... whatever cortex-M0+ version was), AVR, STM32 or PIC MCU. There's a lot of chips designed to do this, and they're all on the SDCC compiler for a reason. That's where the niche has been carved out.

Look, I know a lot of people like RP2350 but there's a lot of jobs that chip is just wholly unsuited for.

> STM32 is in most volume equipment now for a reason. Microchip screwed everyone on long-term pricing, and clown priced themselves out of key markets.

AVR16DD14 is 68-cents on Digikey, Mouser, and direct-order from Microchip right now (qty 100 or more). If you need more analog power, the AVR*DB line is closer to $1.20 but comes with 2x or 3x OpAmps (AVR32DB28 I think was 2x OpAmps)