I have an MX-810 and I'm just wondering if I would benefit from getting an MX-980. I do have one problem with the MX-810. After I set up my Activities it may work a few times and then the screen that comes up when you press one of the activities saying Keep me pointed and Professionally programed automation is now taking place doesn't stay on the screen long enough for it to turn everything on. If I do a fresh download it seems to be ok for a few times.

I think that the idea that these macros work after a fresh download but run too fast later on is a red herring, probably because the macros are right on the edge of running too fast. Try adding some delays between each step in your programming and the problem may go away. I've set up 3 different HT systems using the MX 810, and it each case I had to liberally pad the macros with little delays before they ran reliably.