Here's another thought for the knob area. I used a black grease pencil to darken the end of the aluminium shaft, so it is less conspicuous on the button face in bright light.

The same grease pencil (more like a grown-up crayon) could be used to darken the coloured faceplate around the knob area, to cut down on direct light leakage from the LEDs in that area. Leaving, of course, space for the IR signals to pass through. Mmm.. I think I'll do that next time I have the front off of mine.

-ml