[davidgould]

If you are interested on programming something like a 6800 or 6502, but would like to make a practical device and not just run in simulation, take a look at the STM8. It's a very widely used 8-bit embedded controller and architecturally very like a cleaned up and improved 6800.

The STM8S discovery board for this is $8 and in stock at ST and Digikey.This includes the target system and the ST-Link programmer. There are free commercial tool chains and the open source SDCC toolchain.