Gonk, how did I know you would be the first to reply? Probably because you're close to 10,000 posts! I haven't posted on here in a few years, but you are as always very helpful. Outlaw should be giving you free equipment for being an "unofficial" member of their team.
Yeah, only using the front sensor as always with an MX-500. I have rechargables in there and the light is still very bright when pressed. I know I need to change the batteries when this is too dim to read the LCD well. I was also thinking of digging out the OE remote to check, like you suggested. The only other change in equipment is a new TV, but that was a few weeks ago. One thing I did notice is that I have an X-10 pyramid transmitter in the basement and the receiver/repeater is in the living room. Both plug in to the wall. The only time this should be active is when I am in the basement sending commands upstairs, but I noticed when I put the old 32 inch TV downstairs, it had some weird interferance on the X-10 transmitter causing the red LED to light like it was receiving a signal from a remote. I had to move the X-10 quite a distance away from that TV to see the LED turn-off. I had it on top of an old 20 inch TV and it never did that. That's why I thought interference, but I would think this would affect all the other components as well, but only the 950 is not responding all the time.