Wifi Remote Suggestions

First time poster here... so, hola!
 
I've done a lot of reading and i still cant really find a good answer. I am looking for a remote with actual buttons and a touch screen that is wifi enabled. The devices it would be interacting with is as follows:
 
DirecTV HR44 via IP
HTPC running XBMC (Kodi), most likely on Ubuntu
Onkyo receiver via RS232 via HTPC
Sony projector via RS232 via HTPC
ZWave devices such as lighting/fans
Wireless Thermostat (Nest)
 
T am trying to avoid using IR or RF. I am not afraid of doing a little scripting; i almost prefer it. I've had a little fun playing with DirecTVs api in python since finding out about it. The way i see it, i think i have 2 options:

1. The remote control directly interacts with devices such as my DirecTV DVR via IP, lighting via ZWave, and Receiver via HTPC (RS232)
2. The remote control only interacts with the HTPC which then issues commands via script to all devices.

so far the URC TRC-1280 is the only thing that i can find that possibly fits what i am looking for but it appears i need to part seas and turn water into wine in order to obtain one and get the programming software from an installer. I've also read that it might be a little overkill for my setup. 
 
While i want an actual remote with actual buttons, i would like to also have the option of control via iOS/Android, if possible.
 
all this being said, are there any remotes on the market right now that can fit the bill?

What you're describing sure sounds like an RTI/URC/ProControl/Crestron type of remote.  Something with a remote that talks to a central processor.  Those also have companion licenses that allow phone/tablet control so it seems to check everything off your list.
 
Getting the software and remote isn't as easy as walking into a best buy, but if you can earn an installer's trust they might hook you up; but it violates any dealer agreements they might have in place so tread lightly... or just keep looking around.  Some installers charge pretty reasonable street prices and charge for their time separately.

The only issue i have with those remotes is that i'm also going to have to drop $700+ on a controller that is essentially a cheap server. I already have a server for HTPC/Storage/etc.. that i could technically use to perform the same functionality.
 
Perhaps a better question would be, is there home automation software that i could use to control all my devices from my HTPC (ignoring my previous remote control "requirements")? is Plex an option? how about XBMC? I just started reading about Plex and its been a LONG time since looking into XBMC but i'm sure it's come a long ways since my first introduction of it back in the original xbox days.
 
I know you guys hate people asking questions without first doing a little homework. I am still actively performing my due diligence but any direction you could provide to short circuit the learning wall would be greatly appreciated

I'm also looking into whether or not the logitech harmony ultimate home remote can be used to send signals to a PC via wifi which can then process and initiate actions. way too much information consumption right now. I dont want to go to work right now

Can't understand why you want to avoid IR... A global cache GC-100 or the newer iTach's will do everything you want, but they send IR over ethernet so I guess that's out for you. They also have serial ports built in.

Same question - not sure why you want to avoid "RF", obviously WIFI is just a protocol over RF so you would not be really avoiding RF anyway. There are a lot of options out there. Have you looked into a URC MX-450 / MRF-350 Combination? It would be Wireless back to IR. I have the setup and I am very happy with it.

Mostly stubbornness and partial ignorance. To me, its 2014, and communicating using anything but IP is archaic. Using IP offers exact control over a device. if i push a button, assuming tcp, i will know immediately the success of that command and implement/script logic to perform certain actions if the command isn’t successful (i.e. a "power on" loop until the device reports it's status as actually being on). Correct me if i am wrong, but i don’t think that RF and IR do a good job of 2-way communication.
 
The scripting/customization aspect is also very interesting to me. I would love to be able to have a remote that sends a signal to a listening service on my server via wifi which then in turn executes a script that i can customize (perl/python/whatever). The concept would be trivial to implement and is actually very surprising to me that there aren’t (m)any physical remotes that can perform this function. Kinda like Open Remote or Roomie Remote... but with physical buttons. Perhaps there is a market to take advantage of here

You can set up a Harmony remote to do any kind of macro you want. I can turn on any light, set the temperature, lock/unlock doors, anything I want to do . All by IR.
 
Obviously, IR isn't a two way transport but you can use current sensors to determine if the tv turned on or not. 
 
Regardless of what you use, eventually there's gonna be a device that needs an IR signal, so chances are you're gonna need to have some kind of IR network in place anyway.

neeo.com

Unrelated to OP sort of.
 
I've been testing my Homeseer 3 automation in Linux running it on one of my XBMC boxes.  It has run well.
 
The XBMC box was a bit light on memory at 512Mb and has a core duo and is running Ubuntu 14.04 64bit.
 
I also ran extra automation DB's on the instance of mySQL running on the box.
 
The Homeseer 3 instance of automation software talked fine to Z-Wave, X-10 and UPB plus a few other hardware devices and scripts.
 
There are Homeseer 3 serial plugins for LCD TVs and Multimedia receivers and DTV boxes today.  There is or was an HS3 Nest plugin.  Here I am beta testing a HS3 OPII plugin.  I also utilize Russound zoned amps here and split the serial port with a server to the OPII panel and the Homeseer server. 
 
I have another box today running MythTV / Squeezebox server which I also tested running the automation software and it ran fine.  That and ran the software on my Zoneminder box with no issues.
 
Historically I have not mixed my media / media control with my automation.
 
That said though I do use IR / IR Blasting stuff.  Here I recall my very first DTV box being a Sony with an RS-232 port on it which I did utilize some 20 years ago.  Moved to the DTivo world afterwards.
 
With the testing set up it would be no issue to create XBMC pages to manage or provide Automation status from the automation application or vice versa.  Well there is an XBMC plugin such that you could manage the XBMC instance from the automation software.
 
Here too you can mix IP / IR / serial / network controls to both XBMC and Automation software.