I sell Savant and control4 systems to some of the wealthiest people on the planet. Hall of fame atheletes, billionaire titans of industry and the like. I would never in a million years provide them with an IP controlled Directv system. No matter which control system you use, you are dependent on the DirecTV network staying up (local box deca network). It's just begging for trouble. We do crestron and Elan as well. With Total Control you are at least half the cost of those other two systems. I would argue that controlling the DirecTV boxes via annIR emitter is a fine and rock solid way to go.

That said I have used the URC total control IP driver in my own home with zero issues. One genie box and 3 clients.