Taking that one as an example, I see the cheapest costs $1.35 ea., best price on Mouser (at its largest order quantity of 546(?)): https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Microchip-Technology/PIC16F1824-E-JQ?qs=4f%252Bx0JRcgJbohJ4cdF4aRg%3D%3D
And the AT1616 with the same encapsulation (to try and avoid distortions due to that) costs $0.79 ea. at the nearest quantity of $100: https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Microchip-Technology/ATTINY1616-MNR?qs=HXFqYaX1Q2yKNpuKQU9qww%3D%3D
So it doesn’t look like Sofirn and others using this PIC are doing it to save costs. Why, then? Do they hate Anduril so much they’d pay more just to make it impossible for us to use their lights with Anduril? OFC that makes no sense.
I’m sure I’m missing something… perhaps whatever source they buy from in China has incredibly cheaper PIC prices and/or incredibly more expensive ATTiny’s?