I agree with Joe, the Sony won't perform well and once you go down the Crestron road it will probably become unmanageable and expensive for you.

Find a direct URC dealer and purchase a programmed remote through him. Make sure you select a dealer who will help you down the road. The way we do it is by providing optional lifetime contracts for programming changes, but every dealer is different. Just make sure you have some forward flexibility if you need to make changes and understand the pricing structure. As Joe indicated, RTI is a great way to go, but may be a higher price point than URC.

I would go for at least an MX-880 with MRF-260 base unit on the think small end. You could price out the MX-980 and MRF-350 (or 260 if that is fine) as a nice step up, and you can go crazy with an MX-5000 for the ultimate experience URC delivers. All three options will allow you to control your theater comfortabley and with a high degree of enjoyment and reliability.

Regards,
Vincent
Total Control Remotes