Why do you suppose that there aren't a variety of comparable tools for competing microcontrollers? AVR is popular, now, a decade after its inception, but the tool cost, for years, impeded its penetration into the smaller markets. Motorola's MCU's don't seem to have the variety of tools either.

The BIG (32-bit) MCU's seem to have support, thanks primarily to GNU tools, but most of the "others" have either a meager tool set, or a limited and costly one.

Decades ago, there were low-cost, even no-cost, development tools for nearly every available processor. Those that lacked them nearly always died a quick death. That way, one could "try 'em out" without making an otherwise "frivolous" investment in tools for an unsuitable product, almost certain to get one fired, since management doesn't differentiate between money spent on tools and time spent on development. If either's a dead end, you're out.

RE