I am puzzled that the better remotes can't be used better with one hand. I guess the challenge of everything on the remote, labeled properly, just makes remotes too large to use that way.

This is closely related to learning to use these remotes without looking. The best remote I have seen in years is the peanut TiVo remote. Different button shapes, placement, and the shape of the remote itself lent it to being learned by touch. None of the programmables can do that. (The opposite case is the rectangular Yamaha CD or older DVD remotes, which I often pick up upside down. I figure that with my experience, if I pick up a remote upside down, it is designed improperly.)

I used to program Prontos and Marantzes, and LOVED them, until I recently programmed an extra RC5200 for my wife and me. I found it impossible to use, mostly because my new TiVo didn't have a 30-second skip and I had to make my finger hover over the screen in FF while waiting to resume play. That was too hard to do and often meant I hit the wrong button.

So I changed to an RTI T2+. That is MUCH MUCH better, except INFO doesn't have a button down on the bottom, so when I want info, I have to look at the remote, add a second hand to hold it, and reach up for INFO in the LCD screen. How awkward! I think we need a remote a little wider than the T2+ with button names that can be changed. Otherwise remote use still requires yanking attention from the TV to the remote.