True, orientation has always been the one difficult thing about Tivo remotes. However, I felt that the glow remotes specifically had this problem the least, as I know that when I'm holding the remote correctly, the back of it (over the battery compartment) has those ridges that are pretty easy to feel immediately. With the other Tivo remotes I've just felt for the concave part of the back and I knew that was the sensor end.

Regardless, you're correct that the glow is what most sucks the batteries. However, try testing them the next time you swap them out like I did, and you might not have to replace as many as you thought