Harmony remotes (and similar) have an LCD to solve your lack of buttons problem. There is no need to change devices because you can put any commands from any device on the LCD for quick access.

Most devices have discrete input commands so you don't have to perform multiple presses. These commands exist on universal remotes like harmony but not on your original remote. For example, Harmony will have an HDMI3 command that goes directly to HDMI3, without having to press Input several times or remember how many Input commands from HDMI1 to HDMI3. So your watch DVD activity macro will turn on all the appropriate devices and send the discrete input command for your DVD input. Watch TV will do the same for your cable/sat input. It doesn't matter where you started, the discrete command always goes directly to the proper input. This is how universal remotes work.