I had assumed you would see this Topic PIC uC - Microcontrollers - Arduino Forum without any searching.
It did take me a while to find the other Topic I had in mind (and I only found it because I had a vague recollection that I had commented on it PIC micro-controller vs Arduino - Microcontrollers - Arduino Forum. This one probably has more useful info.
The Arduino search tool is useless. Use Google and confine it to site:arduino.cc
In short there seem to be plenty of opportunites to use PICs and whether you should or not is more a matter of religion. Personally I don't care, but the Arduino system is easy to use so I don't have any immediate need to try the PIC alternatives.
...R