Too bad about the "just black." Those of us with less-than-good-eyesight have difficulty with the notations for each button on black - - unless they're printed in stark white.
That was my trouble with the BR-2. I had to memorize which button to press.
also, I do hope the battery will be easier to change. (Try loosening those tiny screws with 20/40 eyesight!)
Just some thoughts.
The buttons themselves are roughly the same size as the BR-2, but I've tried to design the silk screen to be easier to read. It will be printed in white. The problem I had with dark screen ink on a silver remote is that in a dim room, it's all gray. One upshot of the new remote is that the volume and mute buttons are larger and different shaped, so at least you can feel for those.
The batteries aren't really any easier to change, but since we're using a new IC and there is no backlighting, you'll have to change them far less often. I imagine even with heavy use, a set of batteries should last for years.