Using a unique ID to identify each program would not be exactly the same as what VCR+ does. The code that VCR+ uses has nothing to do with the actual program, the code is derived using channel number, start time, and duration.
Using a unique ID for the program would mean that for instance "Friends" would get a code of 12345. You set up a weekly timer for Friends on Thursday nights. The system could automatically determine that 12345 has changed duration or start day/time and adjust your timer automatically.
I think though that a unique ID approach would be a little too close to the name-based approach. I would bet that some sort of unique ID thing happens "underneath the covers" for Tivo as well. Maybe not though...
A test of this would be to set up a name-based recording for a show name that is not unique (like the "ER" drama and the "ER" comedy if it were still on). I know that is a rare thing, but it might provide some insight as to how Tivo does things internally...
I do hope that Dish figures out a way to deal with this. It would make a lot of people really happy.
I would like it if the system would figure out a way so that if I had back-to-back timers on the same channel, that it would not have that 1-2 second gap between the timers. The only way I have been able to deal with this now is to set up the first timer so that it records longer (to catch both programs).