It is a shame, RCF051. It's true that they should make efforts to protect their authorized dealers, but the manner in which they're going about it doesn't sit quite right with me. Rather than establish better controls on their distribution channels (those unauthorized dealers are getting their product from somewhere), they've decided to do something that's logistically easier for them but that seems to try to brush off the huge "enthusiast" customer base (one that has as often as not bought from authorized dealers but by and large has no interest in paying those dealers and custom installers for the labor associated with setting the remotes up) that has brought them significant sales over the years and makes it harder for prospective customers to research their remotes. Being able to download the software was a huge factor in my decision to get an MX-700. I still prefer the Universal Remote designs for my needs (the software interface allows somewhat easier "tweaking" than the Harmony approach), but this little maneuver hasn't impressed me.