Control is the key element of custom integration. You can have the best home theater, the best distributed audio system, the best lighting system, but if you can't figure out how to work it properly it's wasted.
The simpler you want to make control of the system the more expensive it is to attain. That's because of the "under the hood" programming that needs to be done to make it easy. Those entry level all-in-one remotes may accomplish 95% of the job but it's alot of steps to memorize. Push this button first, then switch this side toggle, ok now push that button, wait 3 seconds and then push that one. Sometimes it's better to just grab the remote designed for the product, but who wants all of those remotes cluttering the table.
Sometimes it's hard to convince a customer of the need for something more expensive that will make their life easier. I try to show them the joy of control on a simpler platform, like choosing music from a digital library.
During the summer months I spend much time on my gazebo where I have speakers running from my distributed audio system in the house. Most of the time I'm listening to digital music as opposed to CDs (though technically that's digital too but you get the point). It used to be I'd be choosing things from my iTunes library via Apple's remote app for the iPhone and iPad. That is until Spotify.
Spotify doesn't make a remote app but there are third parties that do. I don't need to use iTunes because Spotify on my desktop computer integrates everything from the iTunes library into their program. In other words, all my Beatles music shows up on Spotify even though it's unavailable through streaming. If you have it in your personal collection it'll play it.
My iPad rests on the table on the gazebo and from the third party Spotify remote app I can choose what I want to hear. Tired of a certain song I simply tap to fire up another one. The simplicity of navigating through millions of songs is so much fun and a great example of what control can do for you.

If you have a question or if I may be of service email me at radiohannibal@gmail.com
John Hannibal