You are correct. In our home we have three different sets of channel numbers, and it sometimes is a problem..Most of the time it is not, because we watch a limited number of channels, especially on the TV that does not have an external box. A VR, however is a different ball of wax. Placing a "channel list" in each room that has a TV would help a lot.
As far your BluRay problem is concerned, it is pretty much a given that anything with a disc or a tape will have a much shorter life expectancy that a purely electronic device. So, even though it may be a bit more complicated, it's best always to buy those things as discrete components.
Steve