Atmel (the Arduino chip manufacturer) has their own IDE called Atmel Studio that apparently allows you to use assembly if you want. Many people seem to indicate that there's no great gain in doing so however--
http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=37130.0
I haven't ever tried using Atmel Studio myself, or assembly either.
Be cautious if buying a China Uno clone board that claims to have an FTDI chip. Many in the past have been fakes that only work with one old driver version.
(shrugging) Neither my money or my opinion will change those politics.
Other people live in countries with protective (
prohibitive) trade policies, and they regularly face the delight of paying dozens of dollars for things that cost pennies.
On another forum, a kid in Brazil (I think) once said that the cheapest way to buy an Arduino in his country cost around $85US,,,,, and the Brazilian minimum wage is less than
half the US wage. So there, an Uno costs roughly $160 in US-equivalent pricing. Is that better?