1. No, you can really only program the middle two. The left button accesses setup mode. The right button either takes you to a device page or (with hacking) to a user-created start page.

2. For the hard buttons, yes, but if the screen is OFF you have to touch the screen or press a button to turn it on before any touchscreen commands are sent.

3. You are stuck with the date and time at the top and the 4 button labels at the bottom.

4. No

As one of the biggest Neo supporters....I'd give the Harmony 520 or 880 a look. I switched to the 520 for wife approval...and got it. The 520 is only $99 and the 880 can be had for around $170.