My own experience is with the first module in the link I gave. I use HITAG 1 tags, either in credit card format or as round discs.
My application uses an RS422 based network because it covers a wide distance using a simple PIC16F628A as the interface. The built-in UART sits on the RS422 link and I bit-bang a second UART to talk to the RFID interface. The same PIC also controls gate locks, an alarm, room lights, a doorbell push button and a sensor switch. So yes, it can be done quite easily. The 16F628A is very similar to the 877A it just has a few less pins.
Brian.