hi
there's no ideal compiler, just choose one that you can integrate into MPLAB
i like CCS, easy to use with its amount of built-in device 'drivers'
if you are more hard-core C coder you will prefer Hitech
IAR is the professoinal IDE provider for most microcontrollers family. Check in www.iar.com
The IDE is very intuitive and single utilization... go to the page and donwload the evaluation version and verify!!!