On January 15, 2007 at 03:11, netarc said...
... naturally a sensor's going to be more accurate than
a variable
You answered it, a sensor is more accurate. Let's say for a moment you used variables to track power status. Your variable says the unit is off and it is correct, Next you send a power toggle command and set your variable high. If the TOAD never got the power command it is now out of synch. A sensor would know that it is still off, but the variable is now set high (on) which is incorrect.
This is why the variable solution is still really a "guess state" solution, even though you may be right most of the time, there is no guarantee as there would be with the sensor.
I'm one that wants things to work perfect every time, not just most of the time, therefore I use sensors. Also I can now use multiple remotes in my living room since I like my 950 and everyone else likes the TX-1000. You could never use multiple remotes with variables.
Variables have not fallen by the wayside, the MSC-400 does support variables as will future equipment. Variables are valuable for making buttons react in a certain way, tracking which device was last selected on a remote, and many other situations. Sensors should be used whenever you want to know the
true state of something. Variables should be used to manipulate page jumps, button actions, or other remote functions.
I hope this clears things up a bit. Don't worry variables are here to stay, they are far too valuable to get rid of and sensors are really a great and long-awaited thing.