Consider also this: with a specific analog circuit, or anyway a discrete circuit, you are forced to a certain behavior, and you can customize it only to a certain point.

If you use a uC, there are several advantages:

• Built-in UART (or even USB)
• Nearly limitless configurability
• Relatively high time to get it working

And, if you use something like FTDI chips, the effort is almost none, just use one analog input (almost).

Consider also this: with a specific analog circuit, or anyway a discrete circuit, you are forced to a certain behavior, and you can customize it only to a certain point.

If you use a uC, there are several advantages:

• Built-in UART (or even USB)
• Nearly limitless configurability
• Relatively high time to get it working
• Possibility to add many features

And, if you use something like FTDI chips, the effort is almost none, just use one analog input (almost).