eeeer - maybe my setup is just too "perfect" but please try to explain why I didn't want to control my AVR directly but instead send MP a command, let a plug-in try to translate that, output that via a cable (which would have to be bought) to the AVR to finally do the same?
You are right if you have a good programmable remote why go that way. On the other hand if you have a remote that's not programmable (like my HP MCE remote), HIP and the message plug-in or the MCE replacement driver plug-in are good solutions that come free of charge.
And then there is one more thing ... I use the HIP scheduler to automatically switch my AMP 'on' on power-up and resume and 'off' on standby and shutdown. How did you realize that functionality with the programmable remote?
VdR