Comment by dragontamer

The main advantage of 555 timer is that it is configured with a resistor/capacitor kit. No computer or programming required.

Microcontrollers obviously have more than 1 bit of memory + 2x analog comparators + one 33% / 66% voltage divider (which is all a 555 timer truly is).

What is surprising however is how flexible 1 bit of memory + 2x analog comparators + one 33% / 66% voltage divider