when it comes to the design of TV remotes I could write a whole book about them from an end user's point of view.
some key points in question
can it be repaired? are the button contacts accessible without destructive disassembly.
design TV remotes that are easy to clean. water resistant.
a plastic case design that does not have lots of cracks & crevices in it.
make it two remotes not just one, when you purchase a new TV or TV consumer entertainment technology
if a TV remote is so cheap. why not add or sell a second or spare remote so if the first is lost or damaged beyond repair
you still got a working spare remote when the TV or TV product is no longer in production. if this is all too much to ask

then at least design all the buttons needed on the face of the TV or TV entertainment technology so it will still be functional without a remote.
so simple
have better more functional button layout design that better reflects today's lifestyle . as to have 3 or 4 AV one button pess auxiliary inputs.
the TV channel number buttons are longer the dominant use of buttons, as many TV sets get used as video monitors. so auxiliary inputs need separate buttons
one per auxiliary input. if your TV has 4 HDMI inputs then the TV remote should have 4 separate AV-in buttons.

the case for better TV remote design on big expensive TV technology.
touch if you can see it, feel if you can not. why TV remotes need tactile or raised buttons for use in the dark.
why not backlight illumination of rubbery buttons. this type of technology was used on many of the first cell phones that had buttons.
most TV remotes live in a dark room . if design has movement detection then the TV remote will light up in the dark if grabbed.
finding a lost TV remote? the TV is easy to see , so design a paging button on it. so the remote will beep here I am down the back of the sofa.
it's about time TV remotes got a lithium ion battery in its design, as with most other cheap consumer electronics.
anything voice activated must have an off button or some of us will be un-plugging the TV or bitching bettys talking cyclops box from the wall.

privacy starts with less electronics not more. the life off-line without the phone.