They're awesome.  My mother bought one of the first universal remote controls more than 20 years ago, spendiong over $50.  I've still got it, and it still works, though pieces of it have broken off.  Anyway, they installed televisions in every classroom at my high school later that year, and it was fun to turn the TVs on during class through the hallway window.

There were some older TVs on carts with VCRs on them.  These were wheeled from classroom to classroom for an occasional video during class.  These TVs didn't have an indicator on the screen to show the volume.  So I used my trusty universal remote control to slowly turn the audio lower and lower, until the teacher got up and turned it back up.  Then I guadually made it louder and louder.  You get the idea.  This prank would not work if there were a volume indicator on the screen.

Ah, memories.  It's almost time to ignore another class reunion notice.

Geez H-Dogg , you've got something interesting to say about everything . LOL

is it just a basic one or one of those gnarly logitech ones with the screen? I have a crazy logitech one I got from a sale for about 80$... just hook it into my pc via usb and load the settings from the internet for the product I need to control... I had alot of fun with it at my parents house changing the TV from pocket of my pants. 

I couldn't find the remote for my tv so I went out and bought one of those "universal" types I saw at the

Food Lion supermaket close by my home, found other remote later.

Decided to keep the universal since it worked better than the original remote.

It's a basic one . It only cost 5 bucks but I feel like a king not having to get up to change stations . Life is good .