Well, the main reason to avoid variable-based tracking on any sort of professional system is that it's not completely reliable. Things can and will get out of sync (thus the "help" button to get it back in sync). A more bullet proof solution is to, where possible, use power or video sensing.

Although most higher-end URC remotes support variables, which means you can always do the state tracking yourself.

I use state tracking myself for a television that, while having discrete power codes, also requires a lengthy delay after turning on before sending an input command. And no voltage or video sensing was possible (I tried - it does have composite video out, but it's dead when HDMI is being used).