Well, since you untimately plan on using a universal the differences between these PC remotes becomes quite slim. If you're not controlling an actual MCE system, there's little reason to get the MCE remote. I use both a StreamZap with a standard XP system (mostly for file playback - Media Player or VLC) and an MCE remote with a MCE 2005 system (mostly for TV), and for their respective systems they both work fine.

Note that MCE remotes generally don't offer mouse cursor control like the "generic" ones do.