I have the same problem with the Panasonic! After getting ORDesktop and performing the mods suggested I can control my ReplayTV units perfectly with my IIIc. The Panasonic unit we have responds some times but something is obviously quite different between the units. I tried training from the Panasonic remote and it didn't help much, so I eventually gave up on it.

OmniRemote works just fine with the Panasonic VCR I have, so it's specfic to only some of the Panasonic products. I have not tried the 1.2 beta yet, perhaps things have improved some.