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dc42
The 32-bit boards have other advantages too, such as software control of motor currents, built-in web interface, and high speed uploading to the SD card (via HTTP or FTP in the case of the Duet). You could do digital control of motor currents with an 8-bit solution,
I think the RAMBO implements this.
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dc42
but not the other two.
There are many other things 32bits boards can do that 8bit boards can not ( or should not ) do : time-based acceleration ( working on it in smoothie, you seem to have it in reprap-firmware ), per-step IK ( which reprap-firmware does ), module-based config ( unlimited extruders, unlimited switches etc ), showing the sd card to the computer as mass-storage ( while at the same time doing serial ), per-step acceleration, linuxcnc-like planning, and many many others, including many we have not thought of yet.
To me saying the 8-bit firmwares/board are good enough, is the reprap equivalent of «640K ought to be enough for anybody».
Sure, 640K is a lot, and you can do a lot in 640K, we all agree.