No remote backlighting is a huge mistake. I don’t think there has ever been a C4 remote without backlighting and I’m sure C4 wouldn’t design one without it. However C4 made the decision to sell the Neeo remote “as is” due to the ease to get to market with the existing design. There is a reason the original Neeo didn’t succeed and needed to be acquired and it was only partially due to their software.
Many users would overlook these issues if the remote was sold at its original Kickstarter price, however the current price assumes a flawless execution on design.