I'd point out that the HP48 calculators all used bidirectional CIR for calculator-to-calculator and calculator-to-printer comms. Not that that's a particularly compelling use-case now, as the later flavors (HP-49G+ and HP-50G) use IrDA, (with no compatibility mode). I'm sure there's some diehards still using the HP-48, but everyone I know has moved on to the 50G -- some held off because the 49G+ had serious keyboard reliability issues, but the 50G's rock solid.

Yeah, but given IrDA's existence, I'm not sure if there's a benefit.

To me, a more interesting application of CIR reception (beyond the obvious learning-remote thing) is the possibility of using the Neo900 as a receiver, so you can control it with any old remote you have laying around. (e.g. while it's "docked" to your stereo halfway across the room; this was more interesting when HDMI sounded possible. )