touch my buttons...
In looking for a means to control one's A/V system, an oft overlooked question is hard button remote (a la dedicated universal remote control) or touch screen only device (like your iPhone, iPad, Android tablet, etc.). If you haven't been exposed to the advantages available, you may not have considered your options. The good news is, you do have a choice and a control interface can be provided that best suits your preferences.
Option one, the dedicated remote control can be an excellent choice for controlling your stack of audio/video components, TV and what not. The primary benefit that a well programmed universal remote control system offers is the hard buttons themselves. Once set up, you quickly "train" your hand to operate your equipment. The tactile feedback of an actual button press makes channel surfing and volume control simple and intuitive without having to take your eyes from the action on screen. Since our fingers easily find the correct button, there is no need to actually look down at the device itself. Common tasks are quite easily accomplished.
Further, a universal remote control, having a single job, to control your home theater or distributed audio system, is more difficult to misplace. Simply put, the remote's limited functionality helps it stay in place, where it's needed, when it's needed.
With all that said, there is great value to be had in putting your mobile device into multipurpose mode. Simply put, today's touch screen, mobile devices can do so much more. Whether your an Apple iOS or Android user, there are a number of apps, usually paired with a third party control system, well suited to putting you "in touch" with your AV gear or automation system. When tied to a well designed and properly implemented system, these apps allow you to control your home theater, arm/disarm your security system, adjust lighting and more with the same device that you read on, check your email, etc. Many of these apps also allow control and monitoring when you're away, so you can control aspects of your home from a beach in Hawaii or a coffee shop in Prague. Using an app based approach can often times save a great deal of money, as well. Since the economy of scale provides for super powerful touch screen devices at very low prices that the control only vendors simply cannot match. Lastly, because these smart phone and tablet apps control systems over a WiFi connection, they tend to roam through the home very well (provided the network itself is strong). This is particularly important in scenarios such as selecting what music to listen to as you sip coffee on the back porch or turn a wrench in the garage.
The nice thing about the rate of advancement in electronics is the increase in choice. The most important thing to remember is that whichever control route you select, up to and including the choice to use both, you should certainly select one. A well thought out control interface is the single most important factor in ensuring that you are happy with the systems that it controls.