For prototyping, RaspberryPis will get you where you're going faster than anything else. The Linux environment gives you speed of development. The form factor let's you toss it in a parts bin. The GPIO gives you direct, easy access to the physical world.

After prototyping, redeveloping for a different platform is often not worth the cost. If you didn't use the GPIO, switch to a NUC or similar. Or don't.

Raspberry Pis are in data centers now, occupying server racks. Don't fight the signal; retransmit.