You don't play 20 questions,
Two-three questions is usually all it takes. I don't remember going beyond 5 or 6 questions ever!
And as I said, this is only needed in very rare cases when things really get out of sync and components don't have discrete codes. In such situations your MX-500 macro would fail too.
... you just simply press the button that executes that macro again...
Everything works great (with any programmable remote) when your components have discrete codes. When there is a separate command to turn the componet on, a separate command to turn it off, and a separate IR command, say, to go to input 7. But what if you have some components in your setup that have only toggle commands?
Sometimes you can find a workaround (perhaps pressing the play button can wakeup your DVD player, etc.), but not always. What if you have one of those Toshiba TV sets that doesn't have discrete codes for video input selection, and you have to toggle through all inputs? How do you program a macro that takes you, say, to input 5, if your remote doesn't know what input you are presently on?
My main problem with Harmony isn't their activity based gimmick, it's their build quality vs the price they charge.
You call it "gimmick", I call it "convenience", or in certain cases even "necessity". As for build quality, I can agree, it's pretty average. I've never broken a remote, but I wouldn't drop it on concrete floor or let the dog chew it.