In regards to the 22K series resistor for Picaxe Programming, it CAN eliminated if all you do is Program with a TTL adapter, but I would not recommend it. I might reduce the value to 1K to at least have some protection from over voltage. If the reason to eliminate it is to gain space on a board then I would use a SMD 605 or 402 instead of through hole. If the board is through hole only, a 1/6 Watt radial is not very big. Maybe save some space elsewhere. If the reason to eliminate this resistor is parts count (ie. cost), well I have little pity for cheapskates ( I am one), but we are talking what? 10 cents for a Yaego 10K 1/6 watt axial resistor from Mouser .... ( Probably cheaper from Fleabay or other less reputable sources).
My question is why do you want to eliminate it?
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Connecting a PICAXE to a programmer like a PK2/3/4 can only really do 1 thing and that is read the chip model and possibly the silicon revision, If the programmer (Pickit2/3) GUI Software is set to AutoDetect.
All Picaxe chips are code protected. You can't read the Flash Memory nor the EEPROM, and you can't change the config words ( fuses) without first erasing the chip. Then you no longer have a Picaxe but a bare (but functional) PIC. ... 2 to 6 quid down the drain.
AVR's CAN be "bricked" if the wrong fuses are changed/set . "Bricked" means the chip will not operate and cannot be recovered except via a "Parallel" Programmer that uses high voltage programming. These are somewhat expensive.
Goey