If you're going that rout say so now so I don't waste my time. I can tell you with absolute certainty that anything not Picaxe is going to be a h*ll of a harder road to travel.
There is nothing magical about the Picaxe is just a Pic chip with a boot loader and now slightly proprietary custom die and a supplied development package...
It's really a matter of investment vs ease... The Picaxe line is very limited, if you setup and go with Pics themselves you have a HUGE variety of options that open up to you that will make many things 'easier' in the long run...
A time proven compiler like PicBasic Pro is IMO just as easy to learn as PicAxe basic as it's only a very slight syntax difference... And running side by side with the free Microcode Studio IDE (now included) I don't see how it's anymore complicated than a PicAxe... It's just more upfront investment that can pay for itself quickly...
FYI the PicAxe08M2 is just a Pic12F1840
If the PicAxe system works for you go for it, but I'll use all the hardware and compiler I have paid for over and over again over the years and just use the regular Pic chips as it's much 'easier' for me... I will state my latest design that needed onboard USB would have been just a wee bit complicated if I was limited to the PicAxe line vs picking up a Pic that supported it onboard...
As I have said in regards to the Arduino, you have to consider the long term usage... If you are only going to do one or two things here and there, the PicAxe and Arduino are certainly cheap entry level options, but neither has a real long term and productive outlook beyond small hobby usage...