Sending a character to PC (If you can see it, your serial comm is well configured)
just visualize what would result from what you are suggesting here:
someone works on his hardware for weeks because the "test code" did not work because
a) he used another oscillator frequency
b) the probles is that the program never loaded
c) he used a 6 clocker (or 2 clocker or 1 clocker)
d) he made a mistake in copying the code


Flashing Led (If it flashes, your port is well configured)
just visualize what would result from what you are suggesting here:
a) he used much higher oscillator frequency
b) the probles is that the program never loaded
c) he used a 6 clocker (or 2 clocker or 1 clocker)
d) he made a mistake in copying the code


I mean, easy code that works and will show HW problems. These codes will not answer the tasks of every one but at least will give a base to start you endevour.
see above


you'd never got there without help from teachers, experts or books.
Baloney, I did, long before internet etc.

Erik