> If it's difficult to solder a QFN package, then it will be equally difficult to solder the passives and flash it requires.
Compatible winbond flash is available in sop-8 package which are very easy to solder.
1206 and 0805 are not hard to solder. Nobody is forcing you to use 0201 and 0402.
Sop, tssop or even LQFP-64 are still quite fine for hobbyists. Those can be soldered & most importantly examined quite easily.
Yes, there are various RP2040 boards that can be bought for as low as 2-3dollars a piece which makes the QFN package less of an issue.
If I need to design my own board, I would almost certainly likely use something else unless I need PIO or some other inherent quality of rp2040.
Compatible winbond flash is available in sop-8 package which are very easy to solder. 1206 and 0805 are not hard to solder. Nobody is forcing you to use 0201 and 0402.
Sop, tssop or even LQFP-64 are still quite fine for hobbyists. Those can be soldered & most importantly examined quite easily.
Yes, there are various RP2040 boards that can be bought for as low as 2-3dollars a piece which makes the QFN package less of an issue.
If I need to design my own board, I would almost certainly likely use something else unless I need PIO or some other inherent quality of rp2040.