I have a Pronyo TSU 1000. I programmed it myself and am comfortable doing that again. I am in the process of getting new TV, AVP, and Blu ray. The new things allow using an iphone, ipad, and ipad touch to control. Also with iRule you can use your iphone (etc) to control virtually every thing with IR and RS 232.

My pronto is tired.

Sooo.....

Pronto- sends out IR controls blindly. With IR distribution and proper codes almost anything can be done.

Iphone (etc) sound cool, but no hard keys. Ipad sounds cool, but the screen is bright in theater mode.

My wife likes to watch tv with the DVR. Lots of key strokes, "skip forward, skip back, delete, select, etc" Easier with hard keys.

I watch movies, proper remote with two way information would be nice. Perhaps no gui to affect the picture.

Do people use the iphone, ipod remotes by themselves. Is it a two or more remote life? Iphone to set up, harmony or pronto for hard keys?

Yes

Okay, short question.

Do those with large touchscreen remotes use a second remote with hard buttions? Do they "miss" hard buttons?

Longer answer. If you are a channel surfer or a DVR person, like me, you need hard buttons and a comfortable remote. For doing basic repetitive task, a basic device is better than a complicated one. That said, I also have my iPad that I can use to control most every thing in the house. It's nice to surf through the channel guide without disturbing what's on tv at the moment, or go through my music collection to find a song I want to hear.

Bottom line is, with a big touchscreen remote, you have to be looking at the remote to see what you are doing, and that doesn't work when you are trying to fast forward through the commercials.