put a question back on you:
if you lose the remotes where are you going to get one from at 3am in the morn when you NEED to go somewhere.
if you have a technical issue with it - who are you going to CALL for help. (the installer wont be able to help)
personally I would stay mainstream that way those two questions are null and void.
as for knock offs:
I see DEI, bit of audiovox, bit of mongoose for starters.