Why Clip Zip and Clip+ Processor (Rockbox) AS3525v2 is discontinued

@miikerman wrote:

 

 I’ve also wondered why the particular chip that was chosen as a replacement was chosen. 

I think the company that designed the newer Sandisk players uses it in most of their products.  They apparently specialize in low power DSP firmware/devices:

http://www.perceptiondigital.com/themes/customer/en/files/DSP.pdf