Comment by buescher

Sure, it's kind of cringe. I've shipped stuff with 555 timers in it. I'm not proud, but I'm not telling what either.

You can do almost all of the 555 tricks with comparators and then some, and you'll learn more doing them. Check out the old National Semiconductor application notes for the LM393. You're more likely to see comparators used for little bits of analog/analogish-digital glue in professional designs.