C4 covers what you need. Not sure where you got the idea that the SR260 didnt have Numeric keys. It certainly does.

It does REQUIRE a solid network if your going to any sort of network based control. That should go without saying. Most jobs I take over due to people firing their old installers are systems where the network needed significant attention.

Linksys spaceship routers are the devil.

Where the keys are located on the remote.. Who cares. You get used to what you use. You NEED icon based channel favorites, whip out your phone or get a tablet. Its costs NOTHING extra to use a Tablet or phone on the system. It doesnt even take up any programming time.

For $600 in hardware, there's simply nothing else in the market that does what it does.