Well, I hadn't noticed that. The Wiki is incorrect--986 is the save device configuration command, not 988. I think I can fix that in the Wiki.

Regarding "confirming" that the remote is the same as a RCRP05B: There is little doubt about it-- the 3179 signature tells us that the firmware is identical. The AR5G and RCRP05B need not have the same number of buttons however.

Yes, the RCRP05B only sends TV and Cable power when the 972 command is invoked.

BTW, all of this manual programming is cheap, but investing in a JP1.3 cable is IMO very much worth the $30.  It makes it easy to try multiple configurations.