Neither would I characterize learning how to program the MX-700 as difficult. Regardless, once learned, the time and effort is well worth it.

I had the Harmony 659. Couldn't get it to work properly, and hated that I had to go online every time I wanted to program it, or make any sort of a change. It was, for me, 10 times more difficult to learn than the MX-700, much more inconvenient to use, and considerably less versatile. It sits on a shelf collecting dust. But, suit yourself.

Jack

"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton