Exactly.

I should probably have written originally that macros and activities are not mutually exclusive rather than not contradictory. That would likely have been clearer.

What we're really looking at here is the difference between a manual setup without state tracking versus an automated setup with state tracking. Both can use macros.

I've been out of the loop for a little while now so I haven't been following new product releases. There should be enough information at Remote Central to let you know which remotes support variables across activity modes. You may not find something for $250 or less though. At least not new/retail.