there is unfortunately absolutely nothing that get nearly close to the rp2040 price/performance/features...

ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 are pretty close. Many products could be made with either. The RMT unit is not as flexible as PIO, but will handle basic I/O cases at least.

Fortunately, we have many RISC-V SOC alternative without ARM cores able to do a more than good enough job?

Name one which offers something similar to the RP2040 state machines (PIO) which I can actually buy (not to speak of the RP2040's very competitive prizing) outside of China?

You mean there is zero RISC-V SOC able to do a good enough job, and that without ARM cores?

You're asking them to prove non-existence? Come on, just drop some references already.

From your GP:

> I guess I will avoid that chip and favor those without an ARM block then. Luckily there are many.

What would your personal top picks be for a use-case like the OP?

Believing that HN people are not able to search online for RISC-C SOCs which do not contain ARM cores, but able to do a good enough job, is ...

I believe it when I see it. Have fun LARPing with your "RISC-C SOCs" (if you even run any...).

We should be able to buy a RP2350 with a hardware fuse burned to disable the ARM cores for good. Ofc, those RP2350 should be cheaper since ARM royalties would not be paid.

Can't wait to the day, when I finally can get a RP2350 for $0.78 instead of the current $0.80. Think of the possibilities of what to do with those savings! I gladly forget everything I ever learned about ARM for such.