8 bit microcontrollers have the advantage that most of them are 5V devices vs 3.3V on the 32 bit ones and can also sink and source more current on their pins allowing you more flexibility to hook them up directly to USB Power or LEDs or motor drivers without conversion and from my experience are less sensitive to being bricked or inconsistent behavior from non ideal voltages applied to their pins.
8 bit microcontrollers have the advantage that most of them are 5V devices vs 3.3V on the 32 bit ones and can also sink and source more current on their pins allowing you more flexibility to hook them up directly to USB Power or LEDs or motor drivers without conversion and from my experience are less sensitive to being bricked or inconsistent behavior from non ideal voltages applied to their pins.