Novices always get burned by a common trait of UARTs. Transmitting isn't quite as straightforward. If you don't mask off the interrupt until you're ready to transmit again, then you'll get an infinite stream of these interrupts. Summary When designing a system look carefully at all remote data collection devices. Sure, the software will be a bit more complicated, but cabling costs go down, reliability goes up, and, if optical fiber is used, noise immunity skyrockets.
Engineers often eschew serial due to the time it takes to multiplex data onto the link.
By all means, if speed is truly an issue then use whatever means are needed to get it. You'll pay a heavy penalty for it. Remember the old adage - speed kills. A lot of embedded work is undertaken by old smokestack industries trying to use modern controllers to improve produtivity and cut costs. These companies, the employers of many of this magazine's readers, really don't understand software.