I suspect it's going to cost you about $400 for a new remote to satisfy the base requirements you've mentioned here.

I did a quick scan and the newer HTM remotes support variables. The newer Prontos do too as far as I know, but they have a significant lack of hard buttons.

If those people complaining about "high" Apple product markups knew the parts/manufacturing costs of these remotes they'd drop a brick.
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software